Childhood abuse experience and perception of stalking predict courtship stalking behaviors among college students

This study sought to investigate the factors that predict university students' courtship stalking behaviors (CSB). Data was collected in September-November 2014 and September-December 2015 from 260 university students at 6 four-year universities in A City who had wanted to date someone that did not want to meet them. To measure participants' propensity to exhibit specific risk factors, we used 41 questions in six domains: approach, surveillance, intimidation, harming herself abuse, mild physical harm and severe physical harm. Students responding affirmatively to more than two questions were classified as the CSB group, and the others as the non-CSB group. To identify the factors predictive of CSB in the participants, a binomial logistic regression analysis was conducted. Factors that predicted CSB in participants included male, 5 or more times dating frequency, higher experience of childhood physical abuse, lower perception of stalking. In conclusion, it is important to detect and manage the probability of perpetrating CSB early to prevent the stalking behaviors before it starts.