Toll of Stalking: The Relationship Between Features of Stalking and Psychopathology of Victims (From Stalking: Criminal Justice Responses, P 1-10, 2000, Australian Institute of Criminology -- See NCJ-188298)

• NCJ Number: 188300
• Author(s): E. Blaauw; F. W. Winkel; E. Arensman
• Date Published: 2000
• Length: 10 pages
• Sale Source: Australian Institute of Criminology
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: Australia
• Note: Paper from the conference, "Stalking: Criminal Justice Responses," organized by the Australian Institute of Criminology, December 7-8, 2000, in Sydney. Downloaded May 14, 2001

Annotation

This study investigated whether or not stalking victims had a heightened prevalence of psychopathology and the extent to which symptom levels were associated with stalking features.

Abstract

Stalking victims (n=246) completed the General Health Questionnaire and provided information on specific features of their stalking experiences. High levels of psychopathology were found among stalking victims. Symptom levels were comparable to those of psychiatric outpatients. Seventy-seven percent had a symptom level that indicated a diagnosable psychiatric disorder. The frequency, pervasiveness, duration, and cessation of stalking were associated with symptom levels, but these factors explained only 13 percent of the variance in the level of distress. The study concluded that stalking victims generally had many symptoms of psychopathology. The symptoms were largely independent of features of their stalking experience. These findings suggest that better therapy outcomes can be expected from therapies that focus on boosting general coping skills and on decreasing general vulnerability than from therapies that deal primarily with the stalking situation. 3 tables and 19 references