NCJ Number
200566
Journal
Aggression and Violent Behavior Volume: 8 Issue: 4 Dated: July-August 2003 Pages: 455-469
Date Published
July 2003
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This article reviews the research literature pertaining to stalking behavior in young adults.
Abstract
Young adults of college age experience stalking behavior at a greater level than any other age group. The authors review the literature about the prevalence of stalking among this population, the psychological effects of stalking on young victims, coping strategies of victims, and the explanations for stalking that have been posited by researchers. Comparisons are drawn between the etiology of stalking among young persons versus older adults, where research is available. Research has established the higher rate of stalking victimization among college-aged adults when compared to the general population of adults. The effects of stalking on young adult females range from significant psychological distress to symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Responses to stalking include the legal remedies of restraining orders and incarceration, although research indicates that these legal remedies are not uniformly applied to all stalking situations. Furthermore, young adults are less likely than older adults to report stalking to police. Instead, young female victims tend to ignore their stalkers while young male victims prefer to confront stalkers. Avoidance techniques, such as changing schedules and patterns, is also widely utilized among young adult victims. Next, the authors review the available typologies and theories of stalking, including attachment theory, cognitive theory, and emotional theory. Finally, the authors posit several questions that future research should strive to answer, such as what the characteristics of young perpetrators and victims are and how stalking behavior develops. References