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Meta-analysis has emerged as the procedure of choice for empirically identifying the general determinants of crime. In 2004, Rosenfeld conducted the first meta-analysis of violence in stalking situations. In this study, we provide an updated quantitative analysis of the violent stalking literature. Working with a sample of 5,114 participants, our findings indicate that approximately 35% (n = 1,059) of stalkers were violent and that almost 29% (n = 604) of stalking victims were injured by their stalkers. Eight significant risk factors were found to be related to stalking violence: prior intimate partner, threats, presence of psychosis, presence of personality disorder, substance abuse, criminal history, violence history, and stalker gender. Implications for risk assessment in stalking and future research directions are discussed.
Keywords: meta-analysis, stalking violence, substance abuse, risk assessment
Since the introduction of anti-stalking laws in North America in the 1990's, stalking has become an increasingly popular area of research. Although many definitions of stalking exist, it is commonly defined as "the willful, malicious, and repeated following and harassing of another person that threatens his or her safety" (Meloy & Gothard, 1995). Several victimization surveys have been conducted in the past two decades to assess the prevalence of stalking in the general population. According to a survey conducted by the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics (Stats Canada), 11% of women and 7% of men reported having experienced stalking within the five years that preceded the survey. Similar rates of victimization have also been reported in the United States and the United Kingdom (Tjaden & Thoennes, 1998; Walby & Allen, 2004). Recent statistics from the United States suggest that stalking victimization rates for women may have increased from previous estimates, with approximately 1 in 6 women having reported being stalked at some point in their lives (Black et al., 2011).
Impact of Stalking
Victims of stalking often experience long-term psychological distress, such as depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and suicidal ideation (Pathé & Mullen, 1997). Victims may also experience the development of several medical conditions related to stress such as asthma, irritable bowel syndrome, high blood pressure, and diabetes (Black et al., 2011). Many victims also make dramatic changes to their lifestyles, including relocation, ceasing social activities, and changing work habits. According to the Canadian...