The ex-factor: Characteristics of online and offline post-relationship contact and tracking among Canadian emerging adults

Abstract

The breakup of an intimate relationship is a highly distressing event among emerging adults (Cutler, Glaeser, Norberg, 2001) and can often be accompanied by difficulty adjusting to the loss and ''letting go'' (Mearns, 1991). Research on stalking and cyberstalking behaviours address criminal activities that incite fear in a target (e.g., Spitzberg & Cupach, 2007). Little is known about more general post-relationship contact and tracking (PRCT), that is, efforts to maintain or re-establish contact with an ex-partner or to track their whereabouts, new partnerships or activities. To understand both the use and experience of PRCT, we examined reports from 271 Canadian emerging adults (aged 18-25) regarding their most recent breakup within the prior year. Results indicated that online and offline forms of post-relationship contact and tracking were common, characterizing 87.8% of all recent breakups, and were typically used in conjunction. In fact, online forms rarely occurred in isolation. Attempts to keep in contact were most commonly reported by users and targets of behaviours, whereas extreme and threatening behaviours that might comprise stalking or cyberstalking were rare. No gender differences were found in the use of PRCT behaviours, although women reported experiencing more offline forms.

Stalking-like behavior in adolescence: Prevalence, intent, and associated characteristics.

“…As noted by previous studies (Lee & O'Sullivan, 2014;Lyndon et al, 2011;Reyns et al, 2012), technology is a frequent mode of expressing stalking-like behavior in the current study (e.g., 41% of perpetrating youth had utilized text messaging for their unwanted contact). Nonetheless, youth more often engage in stalking-like behaviors in-person than via technology.…”

“…In one of the few studies to focus on perpetration of cyberstalking among precollege adolescents, Marcum, Higgins, and Ricketts (2014) noted that 5% of high school students in rural North Carolina said they had “repeatedly contacted someone online even after they requested you stop” in the past year. Importantly too, those who stalked online were more likely to also stalk in-person, suggesting that the behavior can overlap across modes (Lee & O’Sullivan, 2014; Lyndon, Bonds-Raacke, & Cratty, 2011). This has been found true among other forms of victimization between peers, like harassment (Mitchell, Jones, Turner, & Shattuck, 2015).…”

Development and Validation of the Stalking and Obsessive Relational Intrusions Questionnaire (SORI-Q)

“…Many existing instruments provide a limited coverage of the whole range of stalking and ORI behaviors (e.g., only focusing on fear-inducing behaviors). Some measures focus on either stalking perpetration or stalking victimization, but not both, whereas others only focus on behaviors limited to one specific form of romantic relationships (e.g., a current or a terminated relationship; Katz & Rich, 2015 ; Lee & O'Sullivan, 2014 ; Shorey et al., 2015 ). It also appears that very few measures assess both offline (in-person) and online stalking (or cyberstalking), resulting in the necessity to incorporate two distinct measures of these types of pursuit behaviors in some studies (e.g., Dardis et al, 2019 ).…”

Neglected side of romantic relationships among college students: Breakup initiators are at risk for depression

“…A breakup can affect the perceived academic performance of college students (Field et al, 2011) and lead to negative emotional coping strategies, such as suppression, avoidance, and repetitive negative thinking (Wrape et al, 2016). Behaviors after a breakup in both genders can include unwanted pursuit behaviors, such as sending a needy message and going places hoping to see the partner (Lee & O'Sullivan, 2014).…”