NCJ Number
183376
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 44 Issue: 3 Dated: May 1999 Pages: 554-557
Date Published
May 1999
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This study examines the psychological impact of stalking upon female undergraduates.
Abstract
Previous research has determined that female undergraduates experience a surprising stalking prevalence rate. Despite common understanding that stalking has deleterious effects, there have been no efforts to systematically assess them with standardized measures. This study compared 36 female stalking victims with 43 females who had been harassed and 48 controls. Psychological impact was assessed with the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Scale, the Symptom Checklist-90-R and the Self-Report Interpersonal Trust Scale. Stalked subjects endorsed significantly more PTSD symptoms and with greater severity than the harassed or control subjects. Stalked subjects also had significantly higher scores on several subscales of the SCL-90 and significantly higher positive symptom totals and distress indexes. The study verified that victims of stalking do suffer measurable negative psychological effects, including depression, heightened interpersonal sensitivity and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. The study also demonstrated the necessity of fine-tuning the definition of “stalking.” It revealed a meaningful difference between individuals who considered themselves victims of stalking versus those who perceived themselves to be harassed but not stalked. Tables, references