Women's experience of violence during stalking by former romantic partners: factors predictive of stalking violence

Violence Against Women. 2005 Jan;11(1):89-114. doi: 10.1177/1077801204271096.

Abstract

This study investigated female experiences of physical violence during stalking by a former romantic partner. It aimed to identify factors that were predictive of such stalking violence. Two hundred and twenty female undergraduates who defined themselves as victims of stalking following the dissolution of a romantic relationship completed a short questionnaire. From their responses, 11 predictor variables were considered. These were self-reported relationship experiences of physical and sexual violence, intentional damage to participant's property, partner jealousy, isolation, monitoring, criticism and insults by the former partner, former partner's drug and alcohol abuse, and specific threats of violence while being stalked. The dependent variable in the study was whether stalking violence occurred; 35.9% (79/220) of participants experienced stalking violence. Logistic regression analysis revealed that there were statistically significant independent associations between threats, partner jealousy, and former partner drug abuse and stalking violence.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Battered Women / psychology*
  • Battered Women / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Internal-External Control*
  • Interpersonal Relations*
  • Logistic Models
  • Obsessive Behavior / epidemiology
  • Obsessive Behavior / psychology*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Risk Assessment / statistics & numerical data
  • Risk Factors
  • Sex Offenses / statistics & numerical data
  • Sexual Partners / psychology*
  • Spouse Abuse / psychology*
  • Spouse Abuse / statistics & numerical data
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • United States