The Relationship between Self-Control and Risky Social Interactions On-Line

An emerging body of research considers the risks of on-line harassment, bullying, and unwanted sexual conversations in on-line environments among juvenile populations. These studies provide significant insight into the behavioral risk factors for victimization, particularly time spent on-line, participation in social networking sites, and risky information sharing. Few, however, have considered the role that communicating with strangers may play in the overall risk of victimization, and the applicability of traditional theories to account for this activity. Thus, this study will examine the relationship between individual communication patterns and practices and the risk of being coerced into sexual conversations using a population of middle and high school students.