A Preliminary Investigation of Risks for Adverse Outcomes of Relationship Seeking on Social Network Sites (SNS): A Descriptive Study of Women Over 50 Seeking Relationships on MySpace in Hillsborough County,Florida |
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| Authors: | Carla VandeWeerd Jaime Corvin Martha Coulter Elizabeth Perkins Robin Telford Ali Yalcin |
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| Affiliation: | 1. The Harrell Center for the Study of Family Violence, Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL;2. Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL;3. Florida Center for Inclusive Communities, Department of Child and Family Studies, College of Behavioral and Community Sciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL;4. Industrial and Management Systems Engineering Department, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL |
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| Abstract: | In contrast to younger populations, little attention has been paid to the increase in seniors using Internet-based venues to find relationships and the potential risk for adverse outcomes this poses. This study examined data collected via an online survey from 45 ethnically diverse women aged 50+ “seeking relationships” on MySpace. The majority of women reported a relationship with someone they met online (85%). They also reported experiencing adverse events including financial exploitation (40%), threats (55%), and physical harm (38%) by someone they met online at levels greater than traditional relationship seeking in the general population. Directions for future research are explored. |
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| Keywords: | intimate partner violence online technology aging interpersonal relationships elder mistreatment |
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