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.
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.
a 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.
Carla
C
Vandeweerd
Jaime
J
Corvin
Martha
M
Coulter
Elizabeth
E
Perkins
Robin
R
Telford
Ali
A
Yalcin
Jaime
J
Myers
Bonnie
B
Yegidis
D000368:Aged; D003625:Data Collection; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D060756:Social Networking; D018454:Spouses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires