Technology-Facilitated Sexual Victimization: Correlates and Outcomes Among Emerging Adults

Technological advances have brought forth new digital opportunities for solicitation of sexually explicit media, nonconsensual sharing of such media, and sexual extortion - a phenomenon known as technology-facilitated sexual victimization (TFSV). Though growing evidence suggests TFSVs are now widespread, particularly among emerging adults, little is known of their co-occurrence with in-person forms of sexual victimization and even less is understood regarding their impact on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. To address these gaps, this study assessed a cross-sectional sample of 735 undergraduate students who completed an anonymous online survey assessing TFSV and in-person sexual victimization experiences, examining PTSD symptom co-occurrence among a random subsample (n = 284) with PTSD symptom assessment. Results showed that 75% of the respondents experienced one or more TFSVs in their lifetime and TFSV experiences were strongly and positively correlated with in-person sexual victimization experiences (r's > 0.70). Multiple regression models showed that TFSV experiences were uniquely associated with more severe PTSD symptoms, even while accounting for in-person sexual victimization experiences, and that TFSV associations with PTSD symptoms were similar in magnitude as in-person sexual victimizations. Additional investigation and clinical assessment of TFSVs are warranted, as they may help identify individuals with psychological morbidity who could benefit from therapeutic intervention.