Stalking and Other Forms of Intrusive Contact After the Dissolution of Adolescent Dating or Romantic Relationships

Abstract

Social science research has recently begun to focus on stalking and other forms of intrusive contact occurring among adolescents and young adults. This article presents results from a survey of 681 undergraduates about their experiences with stalking or other forms of intrusive contact occurring after the end of a dating or romantic relationship. Twenty percent of the respondents had been the target of intrusive contact, 8% had initiated intrusive contact, and 1% had been the target of intrusive contact after one relationship and had initiated intrusive contact after another. More females than males were the target of intrusive contact; however, there were no sex differences associated with initiating intrusive contact. About 20% of the respondents had feared for their safety during the intrusive contact. Thirty-one percent of the respondents described the intrusive contact as having a decidedly negative influence on either their subsequent dating relationships or their lives in general.

Gender, sexism and the social representation of stalking: What makes the difference?

“…Studies show higher rates of stalking incidents among college-aged people than in the general population (Wilcox, Jordan & Pritchard, 2007), and the prevalence rate of victimization is between 10 and 30% (Amar, 2006;Bjerregaard, 2000;Fischer, Cullen & Turner, 2002;Haugaard & Seri, 2003;Coker, Sanderson, Cantu, Huerta, & Fadden, 2008 Additionally, the introduction of this law increased the public's knowledge and awareness (De Fazio, Sgarbi, Moore & Spitzberg, 2015) of stalking, that is currently on the public agenda.…”

Career Dimensions of Stalking Victimization and Perpetration

“…2 Researchers investigating the prevalence of stalking among college students report substantially higher rates of victimization, typically between 6% and 27% (Logan, Leukefeld, & Walker, 2000;McCreedy & Dennis, 1996). Average rates of stalking victimization range from 13% to 30% for female college students (Fisher, Cullen, & Turner, 2002;Fremouw, Westrup, & Pennypacker, 1997) and from 11% to 19% for male college students (Bjerregaard, 2000;Haugaard & Seri, 2001). While a growing body of literature has examined stalking victimization among adult and college student samples, the prior literature sampling children and adolescents is sparse.…”

“…Some studies collected data on stalking perpetration in the general population from samples of stalking victims (Brewster, 2000;Emerson, Ferris, & Gardner, 1998). Stalking perpetration rates reported by college students range from 1% (Fremouw et al, 1997) to 8% (Haugaard & Seri, 2003).…”

“…The extant research on stalking victimization indicates that victims tend to be younger (under 29 years old) rather than older (Haugaard & Seri, 2003;Tjaden & Thoennes, 1998). The age of stalking perpetrators appears to be more varied, with some research determining that young adults are more often stalking perpetrators (Bjerregaard, 2000;Haugaard & Seri, 2003) and other research concluding that persons middle-aged and older are more likely to perpetrate stalking (Harmon, Rosner, & Owens, 1995;Meloy & Gothard, 1995;Mullen & Pathè, 1994).…”

“…The age of stalking perpetrators appears to be more varied, with some research determining that young adults are more often stalking perpetrators (Bjerregaard, 2000;Haugaard & Seri, 2003) and other research concluding that persons middle-aged and older are more likely to perpetrate stalking (Harmon, Rosner, & Owens, 1995;Meloy & Gothard, 1995;Mullen & Pathè, 1994). Given the limited research attention given to age of onset in prior studies of stalking perpetration and victimization, and in light of the mixed findings for stalking perpetration, it is clear that an enhanced understanding of age of onset is needed to determine the types of individuals most at risk for experiencing and committing stalking.…”