NCJ Number
203927
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 31 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2004 Pages: 37-54
Date Published
February 2004
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This article describes the experiences of people that acknowledge initiating intrusive contact after the breakup of a dating or romantic relationship.
Abstract
Of the 631 respondents to a questionnaire on dating relationships, 52 stated that they had initiated intrusive contact toward another person, 127 had been the target of intrusive contact, and 8 had been both the target of intrusive contact after 1 relationship and had initiated intrusive contact after another. The results reported here are on the responses of the 52 participants that had initiated intrusive contact and that described their relationship and the contact afterward in the questionnaire. The resulting data suggest that males and females may be equally likely to initiate intrusive contact and that they are likely to engage in similar types of intrusive contact. The intrusive contact can last a long time in many cases and can have a decidedly negative influence on the lives of many that are the targets of intrusive contact as well as those that initiate the intrusive contact. The study was unable to find aspects of the relationship associated with subsequent intrusive contact. None of the aspects of the relationship explored can be used to predict an increase in the likelihood of a person experiencing intrusive contact. In looking at several personal, family, and friendship characteristics, few differences were found between those experiencing intrusive contact and those not. More research is needed before researchers can begin to offer suggestions for ways to prevent intrusive contact or identify relationships in which it is more likely to occur. 1 table, 18 references