DOI: 10.3886/icpsr02899.v1
title: Experiences and Needs of Formerly Intimate Stalking Victims in Southeastern Pennsylvania, 1991-1995
title: Version 1

description: This study sought to explore the nature of the stalking
 experiences of noncelebrity stalking victims who had previously been
 in intimate relationships with their stalkers. These were cases in
 which the stalkers were seeking revenge and/or reconciliation through
 stalking. Data were collected from 187 female stalking victims during
 1991-1995 living in Chester, Delaware, Bucks, Philadelphia, and
 Montgomery counties in southeastern Pennsylvania. Data collection was
 comprised of an extensive, semistructured, face-to-face interview
 conducted with each woman to gather information concerning the nature
 of the stalking, the relationship between the victim and the stalker,
 the victim's response to the stalking, the consequences of the
 stalking for the victim, the needs of stalking victims in general, and
 fulfillment of those needs in terms of victim services and interaction
 with and cooperation from the criminal justice system. A brief survey
 questionnaire was also administered to obtain demographic information
 about each victim and her stalker. Content analysis of the interview
 transcripts was used to identify variables. Each variable fell into
 one of six categories: (1) victim's prior relationship with the
 stalker, (2) characteristics of the stalking, (3) victim's attempt to
 discourage the stalker (through both legal and extralegal mechanisms),
 (4) assistance sought by the victim through formal and informal
 networks and the subsequent handling of the situation by others, (5)
 the physical and emotional effects of the stalking on the victim, and
 (6) other victimization experiences. Demographic variables include
 the age, race, education level, marital status, and employment status
of both the victim and the stalker.
description: Stalking is estimated to be a widespread problem
 in the United States, affecting people of all walks of life. However,
 previous research on stalking and victims of stalking has been
 scant. Most research addressing the stalking issue has been either
 primarily legal in nature or focused solely on high-profile cases
 involving celebrities and political leaders, although victims of
 stalkings are, more often than not, "everyday, ordinary people." Few
 studies have investigated the incidence and nature of noncelebrity
 stalking victimization. Moreover, these studies have often
 concentrated on many different types of stalkings (e.g., current
 intimate, former intimate, acquaintance, stranger, erotomanic, and
 sociopathic/psychopathic stalkings), rather than researching any one
 particular type of stalking. The purpose of this study was to explore
 the nature of the stalking experiences of noncelebrity stalking
 victims who had previously been in an intimate relationship with their
 stalkers. These were cases in which the stalkers were seeking revenge
and/or reconciliation through stalking.
description: Data were collected from 187 female stalking
 victims during 1991-1995 living in Chester, Delaware, Bucks,
 Philadelphia, and Montgomery counties in southeastern Pennsylvania.
 An extensive, semistructured, face-to-face interview was conducted
 with each woman to gather information concerning the nature of the
 stalking, the relationship between the victim and stalker, the
 victim's response to the stalking, the consequences of the stalking
 for the victim, the needs of stalking victims in general, and
 fulfillment of those needs in terms of victim services and interaction
 with and cooperation from the criminal justice system. The specific
 interview questions were based on a review of the limited literature
 on stalking, as well as on general victimization literature. Each
 interview, lasting between one and three hours, consisted of both
 open-ended and fixed alternative questions, and respondents were
 allowed to elaborate following every question. Each interview began by
 requesting the victim to describe her stalking victimization in her
 own words. Responses to this question lasted anywhere from five
 minutes to two hours. Following the initial question, the remaining
 interview questions were asked. Due to the nature and length of the
 interviews, each interview was tape-recorded and later
 transcribed. Content analysis of the interview transcripts was used to
 identify variables. However, because of the semistructured approach
 taken in conducting the interviews, not all respondents provided data
 pertaining to every variable. A brief survey questionnaire was also
 administered to obtain demographic information about each victim and
her stalker.
description: Each variable fell into one of six categories: (1)
 victim's prior relationship with the stalker, (2) characteristics of
 the stalking (e.g., phone calls, letters, veiled or conditional
 threats), (3) victim's attempt to discourage the stalker (through both
 legal and extralegal mechanisms), (4) assistance sought by the victim
 through formal and informal networks, and the subsequent handling of
 the situation by family, friends, the police, prosecutors, judges, and
 psychologists (specifically their politeness, sympathy, and
 helpfulness), (5) the physical and emotional effects of the stalking
 on the victim (in particular, trouble sleeping, nightmares, weight
 loss, loneliness, sadness, flashbacks, headaches, stomach problems,
 uncontrollable crying, depression, dizziness, feelings of guilt,
 anger, and anxiety attacks), and (6) other victimization experiences,
 and their seriousness and severity of harmfulness to the victim. Other
 variables concern physical triggers within the relationship leading to
 the stalking, the types of physical violence and injuries sustained by
 both the victim and the stalker before and during the stalking, the
 number of months the stalking took place, the stalker's prior
 offenses, convictions, and prison sentences, changes in the victim's
 security habits, and stalking-related financial costs incurred by the
 victim. Demographic variables include the age, race, education level,
 marital status, and employment status of both the victim and the
stalker.
description: Response Rates: Not available.
description: Presence of Common Scales: Several Likert-type scales were used.
description: Convenience sampling.
description: Datasets: 
DS1: Experiences and Needs of Formerly Intimate Stalking Victims in Southeastern Pennsylvania, 1991-1995
description: Formerly intimate female stalking victims in southeastern
Pennsylvania.
description: The user guide and codebook are provided as a Portable
 Document Format (PDF) file. The PDF file format was developed by Adobe
 Systems Incorporated and can be accessed using PDF reader software,
 such as the Adobe Acrobat Reader. Information on how to obtain a copy
of the Acrobat Reader is provided on the ICPSR Website.