A Meta-Analysis of Violent Stalking Reveals Key Risk Factors and Their Consequences for Risk Evaluation

Abstract

The method of choice for objectively determining the broad causes of crime is now meta-analysis. An updated quantitative analysis of  the literature on violentstalking is  presented  in  thispaper.  Based  on  data  from  2,316participants,  we  found  that almost 35% of stalkers used violent tactics, and nearly 24.4% of victims reported that their stalkers had caused them harm. It was discovered that there are eight major risk variables that are associated with the violent acts of stalking: the stalker's gender, previous intimate relationship,  threats,  psychosis,  personality  problem,  substance  addiction,  and  criminal background.  Future  research  directions  and  their  implications  for  risk  assessment  in stalking are highlighted.