Close relationships with people met online in a national U.S. sample of adolescents

Wendy A. Walsh; Janis Wolak; Kimberly J. Mitchell

doi:10.5817/CP2013-3-4

Close relationships with people met online in a national U.S. sample of adolescents

Vol.7,No.3(2013)

Wendy A. Walsh Janis Wolak Kimberly J. Mitchell

https://doi.org/10.5817/CP2013-3-4

How to Cite:

Walsh, W. A., Wolak, J., & Mitchell, K. J. (2013). Close relationships with people met online in a national U.S. sample of adolescents. Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace, 7(3), Article 4. https://doi.org/10.5817/CP2013-3-4

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Abstract

The purpose of this research was to explore characteristics of youth who reported close relationships with people they met online. We used data from a national telephone survey of youth Internet users in the United States, aged 10 to 17 years old (N=1,560). One in ten adolescents (11%) reported a close relationship with a person met online. Results of a logistic regression indicated that the odds of forming close online relationships were about twice as high among youth with depressive symptoms, delinquent behavior, high Internet use, who sought out pornography online, had experienced unwanted online harassment, and had experienced an unwanted online sexual solicitation. Only 2% of youth reported such relationships with adults (18 and older) and many of these were with teens aged 18 or 19, less than 1% had an online relationship with someone over 21. Among youth with close online relationships, 3% sent or received sexual pictures and 34% met the person face-to-face. Of those who met the person, 4% of youth reported sexual contact. The great majority of youth were not afraid or uncomfortable during face-to-face meetings and it was common for parents to know of meetings. As youth continue to use online communication in diverse ways, it is important to better understand how youth are using the Internet to develop intimacy in their lives.

Keywords:
adolescence; Internet; high-risk youth; online relationships

Author biographies

Wendy A. Walsh

Wendy A. Walsh, PhD. is a Research Associate Professor of Sociology at the Crimes against Children Research Center at the University of New Hampshire. Her areas of research include studies on enhancing community response systems of child abuse and the criminal justice response to child abuse. She has published numerous papers on Children’s Advocacy Centers, prosecution of child abuse, and child well-being after child victimization.

Janis Wolak

Janis Wolak, J.D. is a Senior Researcher at the Crimes against Children Research Center of the University of New Hampshire. She is the author and co-author of numerous articles about child victimization, Internet-related sex crimes, and youth Internet use. She is a co-principal investigator and director for the First, Second, and Third Youth Internet Safety Surveys(YISS-1 and YISS-2), the National Juvenile Online Victimization Studies (N-JOV1, N-JOV2, N-JOV3) and the National Juvenile Prostitution Study.

Kimberly J. Mitchell

Kimberly J. Mitchell, PhD, is a research associate professor of psychology at the Crimes against Children Research Center (CCRC) at the University of New Hampshire. She received her PhD in experimental psychology from the University of Rhode Island in 1998. Her current areas of research include youth Internet victimization and juvenile prostitution, with particular emphasis on the developmental and mental health impact of such experiences.

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