Are different Risk Factors Associated with Moderate and Severe Stalking Violence? Examining Factors From the Integrated Theoretical Model of Stalking Violence

Abstract

This study investigated risk factors from the integrated theoretical model of stalking violence (ITMSV) with 703 participants classified as relational stalkers from South-East Queensland (Australia). Participants completed a self-report perpetration questionnaire assessing (a) relational stalking, (b) stalking violence (no/moderate/severe), and (c) predisposing (sociocultural, psychological, historical) and contextual (intentions, triggering events, disinhibitors) risk factors. Findings supported key propositions from the ITMSV. Severely violent stalkers were characterized by a greater number, and more severe types, of predisposing factors than moderately violent or nonviolent stalkers. The importance of contextual factors was supported in relation to moderate and severe stalking violence. Combining predisposing and contextual factors resulted in strong predictions of moderate and severe stalking violence. These findings highlight the pertinence of differentiating moderate and severe stalking violence and combining predisposing and contextual factors in assessments of risk