Graduation Semester and Year
Summer 2024
Language
English
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work
Department
Social Work
First Advisor
Noelle Fields
Second Advisor
Sophia Fantus
Third Advisor
Beverly Black
Fourth Advisor
Ling Xu
Fifth Advisor
Sarah El Sayed
Abstract
The objective of this dissertation is to understand develop an understanding of experiences of online romance scam1(ORS) victimization and to examine factors associated with ORS victimization. The dissertation samples ORS victims and uses purposive sampling strategies to recruit participants. The research used a mixed methods explanatory design approach. Inclusion criteria included ORS victims 18 and older who lived in the U.S., lost any amount of money in ORS scam, and met the scammer on any Internet platform. Three research manuscripts complete this dissertation. The first manuscript is a scoping review to understand the mental and physical health outcomes following ORS victimization. The findings ORS victims experience mental and physical health consequences and gaps in the research indicate inconsistent definitions of ORS and no research focusing on ORS in the United States. The second manuscript highlights the mixed-method research. The research aimed to examine the relationship between dependent variables, ORS victimization and ORS money loss, with interpersonal trust and loneliness. The research reports on the results from online surveys (n = 26) and interviews (n = 19). The results from point biserial correlational analysis and Pearson’s product-moment correlation analysis found no statistically significant relationships between the dependent and independent variables. The third manuscript reports on the qualitative findings. Participants engaged in hour-long recorded interviews to share their experiences with ORS victimization. Interpretive phenomenology was used for data analysis. Four themes were identified: mental health consequences, physical health consequences, financial consequences, and legal consequences. Practice implications from this dissertation recommend incorporating a systems theory lens and to use a person-in-their environment approach when working with victims to help reduce stigma and support victims in coping and recovering from ORS. Education implications suggest professional development for service providers and legal-system providers. Education is needed to increase cultural competency with ORS but also to increase knowledge to identify risk factors associated with victimization and signs of ORS. Overall, the novel findings of the research provide highlights the aftermath of ORS scam victimization which previously largely remained unknown.
Keywords
online romance scam; imposter scam; online romance scam victimization; technology-facilitated violence; loneliness; interpersonal trust; mixed methods; online dating; disenfranchised victimization;
Disciplines
Behavioral Economics | Clinical and Medical Social Work | Communication Technology and New Media | Criminology and Criminal Justice | Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence | Family, Life Course, and Society | Forensic Science and Technology | Science and Technology Studies
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Cole, Rebecca A., "U.S. ONLINE ROMANCE SCAMS: A MIXED METHODS ANALYSIS OF FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH VICTIMIZATION AND EXPLORATION OF LIVED EXPERIENCES OF VICTIMIZATION" (2024). Social Work Dissertations. 138.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/socialwork_dissertations/138
Included in
Behavioral Economics Commons, Clinical and Medical Social Work Commons, Communication Technology and New Media Commons, Criminology and Criminal Justice Commons, Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence Commons, Family, Life Course, and Society Commons, Forensic Science and Technology Commons, Science and Technology Studies Commons