Male stalking victimization: prevalence, characteristics and impact

Abstract

Introduction: Men are more likely than women to engage as perpetrators of violent crime [1]. Male victimization has remained under-researched and only more recently had received scientific interest (e.g., intimate partner victimization) [2]. Likewise, stalking has been characterized by a high number of women involved as victims and men involved as perpetrators [3], being recognized as a gender crime against women in the Istanbul Convention [4]. Research on perceptions of stalking has revealed that male stalking victimization is considered less concerning and less dangerous than female victimization and that males should be able to control their own stalking experience [1]. This study aimed to identify the prevalence, characteristics and impact of stalking victimization in Portuguese men. Helpseeking behaviors are also analyses.

Materials and methods: We used a subsample composed for 570 men, retrieved from of a representative national sample inquired about stalking victimization. The participants were a mean age of 43.78 (DP = 17.99), were mostly married (51%) and employed (71%). The Stalking Victimization Inventory was developed to assess stalking victimization and associated features. The inventory included 23 items, organized in five sections, namely sociodemographic characterization, prevalence of stalking victimization, behaviors and dynamics, impact, and helpseeking sources. To guarantee that participants understood the focus of the study, data were collected through face-to-face interviews, conducted all over the country, during three months.

Results: The lifetime prevalence of stalking in men was 13.6% (n=?). The stalker was mostly perpetrated by a woman (75%), without any intimate relationship (former or actual) in 62% and by an intimate partner in 38% of the cases. The participants were victims of a diversity of stalking behaviours (M = 3.48; DP = 2.07). For the majority stalking lasted more than a month (71%) and, in the most intense phase, stalker attacks occurred daily or weekly (86%). The majority (80.8%) reported that stalking behaviours negatively affected some area of their individual functioning, with intimate relationships and psychological health being the most affected (57% and 54%, respectively). A hierarchical linear regression allowed to identify as significant independent predictors of greater impact the sex of the stalker (being male, B = - 3.87, 95%CI [-7,15,.619]), a higher diversity of stalking behaviours suffered (B = .94, 95%CI [.24, 1.63]) and to feel fear as a consequence of the stalking victimization (B = 7.11, 95%CI [2.68, 11.52]). Despite this, only 25.4% of the victims sought some kind of support to cope with stalking victimization.

Discussion and conclusions: The results show that stalking against men in Portugal should deserve more attention, namely because it has an impact on different areas and well-being of victims. Victim support institutions and judicial entities should ensure gender neutral support services in order to adequate response to the needs of male victims.