Influence of Self-Esteem and Self-Monitoring on Attitudes toward Internet Fraud among Undergraduate Students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife

Abstract

The study examined the influence of self-esteem and self-monitoring on attitudes toward internet fraud among undergraduates in Obafemi Awolowo University. Again it looked into the influence of gender on attitude towards internet fraud. A total of 249 male and female undergraduates participated in the study by filling a questionnaire. Data collected were subjected to appropriate statistical analysis using the two- way ANOVA. Results show that there is a significant gender difference in attitudes towards internet fraud (F{1.248} =3.785,P<.05), it also shows that there is no significant main influence of self-esteem on attitude towards fraud (F {1.248}=.087, P>.05) and that there is a significant main influence of self- monitoring on attitude towards internet fraud (F {1,248}= 7.221,P<.05). Based on the results, conclusions were drawn and recommendations made on the influence of self-monitoring and gender difference on attitude towards internet fraud.

Key words: Self-esteem, Self-monitoring, Internet, Internet Fraud, Undergraduate Students