NCJ Number
187725
Journal
Violence and Victims Volume: 15 Issue: 4 Dated: Winter 2000 Pages: 389-406
Editor(s)
Roland D. Maiuro Ph.D.
Date Published
2000
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This study empirically examines the phenomenon of stalking and its victims, utilizing a random sample of college students. It examines the relationships among the various behaviors engaged in by stalkers, specifically their methods of contact and threatening behaviors, and the levels of fear felt by the victims and harm to the victims.
Abstract
The study was designed to estimate the prevalence of stalking among college students at a large public university and describe the characteristics of both stalking victims and their offenders. The study utilized a random sample of 788 college students, 65 percent were female and 35 percent were male. The study found that 24.7 percent of the females and 10.9 percent of the males had been stalked at one point in their lives and that 6 percent were currently being stalked. These results support the idea that stalking is clearly an important public issue. It was found that stalking is a crime that predominantly affects women and the majority of stalkers are men who stalk female victims. Both males and females reported that on average the stalking incidents lasted several months. The average stalker was white, 18- to 25-years-old and single. Both males and females reported being contacted by a variety of methods with the most common method being phone contacts. Female victims were more likely to report that their stalkers threatened them, regardless of their method of contact. This resulted in females reporting higher levels of fear. This fear appears justified since those who had been threatened were more likely to have been physically harmed by their stalkers. Finding limitations are discussed. References