Experiences and Needs of Formerly Intimate Stalking Victims in Southeastern Pennsylvania, 1991-1995 (ICPSR 2899)

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Study Purpose View help for Study Purpose

Stalking is estimated to be a widespread problem in the United States, affecting people of all walks of life. However, previous research on stalking and victims of stalking has been scant. Most research addressing the stalking issue has been either primarily legal in nature or focused solely on high-profile cases involving celebrities and political leaders, although victims of stalkings are, more often than not, "everyday, ordinary people." Few studies have investigated the incidence and nature of noncelebrity stalking victimization. Moreover, these studies have often concentrated on many different types of stalkings (e.g., current intimate, former intimate, acquaintance, stranger, erotomanic, and sociopathic/psychopathic stalkings), rather than researching any one particular type of stalking. The purpose of this study was to explore the nature of the stalking experiences of noncelebrity stalking victims who had previously been in an intimate relationship with their stalkers. These were cases in which the stalkers were seeking revenge and/or reconciliation through stalking.

Study Design View help for Study Design

Data were collected from 187 female stalking victims during 1991-1995 living in Chester, Delaware, Bucks, Philadelphia, and Montgomery counties in southeastern Pennsylvania. An extensive, semistructured, face-to-face interview was conducted with each woman to gather information concerning the nature of the stalking, the relationship between the victim and stalker, the victim's response to the stalking, the consequences of the stalking for the victim, the needs of stalking victims in general, and fulfillment of those needs in terms of victim services and interaction with and cooperation from the criminal justice system. The specific interview questions were based on a review of the limited literature on stalking, as well as on general victimization literature. Each interview, lasting between one and three hours, consisted of both open-ended and fixed alternative questions, and respondents were allowed to elaborate following every question. Each interview began by requesting the victim to describe her stalking victimization in her own words. Responses to this question lasted anywhere from five minutes to two hours. Following the initial question, the remaining interview questions were asked. Due to the nature and length of the interviews, each interview was tape-recorded and later transcribed. Content analysis of the interview transcripts was used to identify variables. However, because of the semistructured approach taken in conducting the interviews, not all respondents provided data pertaining to every variable. A brief survey questionnaire was also administered to obtain demographic information about each victim and her stalker.

Sample View help for Sample

Convenience sampling.

Universe View help for Universe

Formerly intimate female stalking victims in southeastern Pennsylvania.

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Description of Variables View help for Description of Variables

Each variable fell into one of six categories: (1) victim's prior relationship with the stalker, (2) characteristics of the stalking (e.g., phone calls, letters, veiled or conditional threats), (3) victim's attempt to discourage the stalker (through both legal and extralegal mechanisms), (4) assistance sought by the victim through formal and informal networks, and the subsequent handling of the situation by family, friends, the police, prosecutors, judges, and psychologists (specifically their politeness, sympathy, and helpfulness), (5) the physical and emotional effects of the stalking on the victim (in particular, trouble sleeping, nightmares, weight loss, loneliness, sadness, flashbacks, headaches, stomach problems, uncontrollable crying, depression, dizziness, feelings of guilt, anger, and anxiety attacks), and (6) other victimization experiences, and their seriousness and severity of harmfulness to the victim. Other variables concern physical triggers within the relationship leading to the stalking, the types of physical violence and injuries sustained by both the victim and the stalker before and during the stalking, the number of months the stalking took place, the stalker's prior offenses, convictions, and prison sentences, changes in the victim's security habits, and stalking-related financial costs incurred by the victim. Demographic variables include the age, race, education level, marital status, and employment status of both the victim and the stalker.

Response Rates View help for Response Rates

Not available.

Presence of Common Scales View help for Presence of Common Scales

Several Likert-type scales were used.

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Original Release Date View help for Original Release Date

2000-08-04

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