The Tactical Topography of Stalking Victimization and Management

Abstract

A meta-analysis of 108 samples across 103 studies of stalking-related phenomena, representing almost 70,000 participants, reveals an average prevalence across studies of 23.5% for women and 10.5% for men, with an average duration of almost 2 years. The average proportion of female victims across studies was 75%, and 77% of stalking emerged from some form of prior acquaintance, with 49%originating from romantic relationships. New typologies of stalking behavior, coping responses to stalking, and symptomology due to stalking victimization are reported. Across 42 studies, the average physical violence incidence was 33%, and 17 studies produced an average sexual violence incidence of slightly greater than 10%. A summary of 32 studies of restraining orders indicated that they are violated an average of 40% of the time and are perceived as followed by worse events almost 21% of the time.