Stalking and psychological abuse: common factors and relationship-specific characteristics

Violence Vict. 2003 Apr;18(2):163-80. doi: 10.1891/vivi.2003.18.2.163.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to refine and elaborate models of personality and relationship-specific characteristics in the perpetration of stalking and psychological abuse. Three hundred and forty-two college students who had been in intimate relationships completed a series of questionnaires about their most recent breakup and their former relationship. Our hypotheses were supported, with harsh parental discipline, anxious attachment, and need for control of one's partner forming a common cluster in the prediction of stalking and psychological abuse. For psychological abuse, relationship dissatisfaction added to the predictive factors; whereas for stalking, the level of anger-jealousy over the breakup was the major added factor. Degree of anger-jealousy was influenced by being the recipient of a breakup and the level of passion.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anger
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interpersonal Relations*
  • Jealousy
  • Male
  • Obsessive Behavior / psychology*
  • Parent-Child Relations
  • Sexual Harassment / psychology*
  • South Carolina
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • United States