SİBER SUÇ KORKUSUNUN İNTERNET KULLANICILARININ DAVRANIŞSAL ADAPTASYONLARI, KİŞİSEL VERİLERİN PAYLAŞIMI KARARLARI VE GÜVENLİK TEDBİRLERİNİ UYGULAMA NİYETLERİ ÜZERİNDEKİ ETKİLERİNİN ÖLÇÜLMESİ
Recent research illustrates that cybercrime is the fastest growing crime in the world and poses a significant threat for both individuals and online traders. This image of cybercrime boosts the public concern and anxiety; thereby exacerbate the fear of cybercrime. This empirical study examined how fear of cybercrime impact Internet users’ online shopping safeguarding behaviors, online security measures, password management strategies and online privacy calculus. Exploring the predictors of fear of cybercrime was another goal of this study. To these ends, bivariate analyses (Pearson’s Chi-square Test) and multivariate (Binary Logistic Regression) analyses were conducted. SPSS Statistics software was utilized to analyze nationally representative data set of Crime Survey for England and Wales 2014/2015. This study also benefited from the approach-avoidance paradigm, which accounts for individuals’ behavioral adaptations when people are exposed to fear-provoking events, as a theoretical and conceptual framework. Bivariate analyses results suggested the absence of gender differences in fear of cybercrime. This finding contradicts the existing fear of crime studies arguing that females are more fearful. Age and social status (education and income) emerged as significant correlates of fear of cybercrime. Internet users with higher income and higher education level reported significantly higher degrees of fear of cybercrime. Additionally, older Internet users emerged to be more fearful of cybercrime, when compared to middle-aged and younger Internet users. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that Internet users continued online shopping and employed approach-avoidance strategies despite high levels of fear cybercrime. This result contradicts approach-avoidance paradigm, which posits fear of crime fosters avoidant behavior. Young Internet users emerged to be more cautious about online shopping. This finding is also another novel contribution of this study since the existing research depicts young users as compulsive buyers. Additionally, fear of cybercrime predicted limiting online self-disclosure. Internet users with higher degrees of fear of cybercrime refrained from disclosing their personal information online. Finally, fear of cybercrime promoted the application of online safeguarding measures.

Keywords
cybercrime, fear of cybercrime, behavioral adaptations, coping, security