‘I’m not the same person now’: The psychological implications of online contact risk experiences for adults with intellectual disabilities
Abstract
Understanding online risk for adults with intellectual disabilities is important to improve digital inclusion in society. Perceptions of online risk can determine behaviours that obstruct or facilitate Internet access and use. This current study aimed to qualitatively investigate the psychological implications of online victimisation risks, including online negative comments and/or messages for adults with intellectual disabilities, as a novel area yet explored in-depth. Semi-structured interview data was collected remotely. Template analysis found there to be both negative and positive psychological implications experienced in response to online risks. Specifically, participants reported a wide range of negative emotions but also positive growth in the form of learning from the experience and increased confidence. The attribution of blame process in cybervictimisation can involve both blaming the perpetrator but also internalised victim-blaming which may be a consequence of the type of online risk (i.e. sexual risks). Implications for both practice and research are suggested.Citation
Clements, F.A., Chadwick, D.D. and Orchard, L.J. (2023) ‘I’m not the same person now’: The psychological implications of online contact risk experiences for adults with intellectual disabilities. New Media and Society. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444823121799Publisher
SAGEJournal
New Media and SocietyAdditional Links
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/14614448231217994Type
Journal articleLanguage
enDescription
This is an author's accepted manuscript of an article published by SAGE in New Media & Society on 22/12/2023, available online: https://doi.org/10.1177/146144482312179 The accepted manuscript may differ from the final published version.ISSN
1461-4448EISSN
1461-7315ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1177/14614448231217994
Scopus Count
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Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/