Describing Intimate Partner Stalking Over Time

Abstract

Stalking has increasingly been the subject of legislation and research in the past 20 years. Within intimate partner violence, the context where it is most likely to occur, stalking predicts both greater danger and greater distress for the victim. However, research shows that practitioners are often unsure how to address stalking, and that the remedies available may not be effective. This longitudinal exploration of stalking focused on the experience of victims of intimate partner stalking and was conducted by Safe Horizon, an organization providing assistance to victims of violence and abuse in New York City. The sample of 82 women was interviewed monthly over 7 months, and the data were analyzed using growth curve models. We found that stalking decreased over time at a marginally significant level, and that change in stalking varied among participants. Perceived safety followed a similar pattern, increasing but not significantly, while stalking-related distress decreased significantly. The slopes of these variables were correlated, such that as stalking frequency decreased, perceived safety increased and distress decreased. Help-seeking was greater from court sources than victim services over the course of the study, but neither help source was related to a significant decrease in the stalking trajectory. According to victim report, orders of protection (OP) were helpful at some points and not at others. Implications of these results for offering victim-centered services are discussed.

What is empowerment anyway? A model for domestic violence practice, research, and evaluation.

“…These obstacles might be in the domain of community resources, self-efficacy, or the response (or lack thereof) of others in the survivor's life. Research has been clear that there are no one-size-fits-all solutions for all survivors or even for one survivor over time (Cattaneo, Cho, & Botuck, 2011;Davies et al, 1998;Goodman & Epstein, 2008). Thus the assessment of impact must be ongoing, with the expectation that the effectiveness of actions will shift as other parts of the process and the context of the survivor's life evolves.…”

Health Care Professionals’ Knowledge of Stalking Perpetrators, Victims, Behaviors, and Coping Strategies: A Preliminary Study among Italian Hospitals

“…Moreover, when the stalker is a woman, underestimating the severity of the event, wherein the perpetrated actions and the consequences experienced by male victims are perceived to be less dangerous, is a greater risk. Cattaneo et al [13] investigation demonstrated the difficulties of male and female victims experience in receiving help from social and health services. Their study, which involved 82 victims interviewed monthly over 7 months, showed that practitioners are often unsure how to address stalking.…”

Psychological Impact of Stalking on Male and Female Health Care Professional Victims of Stalking and Domestic Violence

“…A selection was made among the cases of self-declared victimization. The criteria of inclusion were the nature of the relationship [intimate romantic (such as partner and ex-partner) and intimate non-romantic (relatives, close friends – see Spitzberg, 2002 )] and the presence of a form of domestic violence (verbal abuse, physical harm, sexual abuse – Bennett Cattaneo et al, 2011 ). Victims of other types of stalkers (acquaintance, unknown) and those who did not suffer from domestic violence were not included.…”