Factors on Single and Repeated Victimization in Digital Sexual Crimes among Adolescents : Focusing on Crime Opportunity Theory

This study examines the factors influencing single and repeated victimization in adolescent digital sexual crimes through the framework of Opportunity Theory, evaluating its applicability in digital environments. Using survey data from 2,837 middle and high school students collected as part of the 2021 study, Status and Countermeasures for Digital Sexual Crimes Targeting Children and Adolescents, conducted by the National Youth Policy Institute, key variables such as exposure, proximity, attractiveness, and guardianship were identified. Respondents were categorized into three groups: non-victimization, single victimization, and repeated victimization. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore the relationships among these variables across the three groups. The findings reveal that the single-victimization group, compared to the no-victimization group, differed significantly only in attractiveness (offline meetings), suggesting that single victimization may stem from temporary vulnerabilities exploited by offenders. In contrast, the repeated-victimization group was significantly influenced by gender, school type, exposure (anonymous account use), proximity (one-on-one conversations), attractiveness (offline meetings), and guardianship (parental support). Additionally, a comparison between the single and repeated victimization groups indicated that parental support was associated with a lower likelihood of repeated victimization. This study underscores the importance of adapting Opportunity Theory to account for the unique characteristics of digital environments. It also provides practical strategies and policy recommendations to enhance protective measures for youth against digital sexual crimes.