NCJ Number
217396
Journal
American Journal of Preventive Medicine Volume: 31 Issue: 2 Dated: August 2006 Pages: 172-175
Date Published
August 2006
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This study investigated the national prevalence of lifetime stalking and examined the demographic characteristics of stalking victims.
Abstract
Results indicated that 4.5 percent of adults in the United States have been victimized by stalking at some point in their lives. This estimate means that nearly 1 in every 22 adults in the United States have been victims of stalking. Women (7 percent) were significantly more likely than men (2 percent) to report stalking victimization. Individuals who were never married or who were separated, widowed, or divorced were significantly more likely to be stalked than individuals who were married or had a partner. Stalking victims were also more likely to be White. Individuals least likely to be victimized by stalking included individuals aged 55 and older and individuals who were retired. These findings can be used to support increased research and resources for stalking. Data were drawn from the second Injury Control and Risk Survey (ICARIS-2), a national cross-sectional random-digit-dial telephone survey of adults in the United States regarding a wide range of injury topics. The survey was conducted in all 50 States and the District of Columbia between July 2001 and February 2003. The current analysis, conducted in 2005, was based on two questions regarding the lifetime experience of stalking victimization and the seriousness of stalking victimization. Data analysis included the use of crude (ORs) and adjusted (AORs) odds ratios and the Wald F test. Future research should examine the characteristics of stalking perpetrators, risk factors for stalking perpetration, and stalking tactics. Table, references