Sextortion risk and protective factors: a meta-analysis

Abstract

Sextortion, the threat to disseminate nude images or explicit videos of an individual to gain money, relationship, sexual favors, or additional sexual material, has become an ever increasing problem with harsh negative consequences for those who become victims. This meta-analysis used the cyber lifestyles routine activities theory (CLRAT) to discover what risk or protective markers related to becoming a victim of sextortion. This meta-analysis included eight papers resulting in eight risk or protective markers. Risk markers analyzed regarding motivated offender (engaging in instant messaging and chatrooms yielded no significant results. Suitable target or target attractiveness identified being female and of a racial/ethnic minority group as both being statistically significant indicators of reporting sextortion victimization, while suffering depressive symptoms in the last 30 days and posting pictures online were not significant. Having both biological parents in the home proved to be a significant protective factor by lowering the likelihood of reporting sextortion victimization. Seeking sexual material online was considered an online deviant behavior but was not found to be statistically significant in this analysis. These findings illustrate the need for additional research and the importance of empowering capable guardians to discourage motivated offenders.