College Student Perceptions of Victim Action: Will Targets of Stalking Report to Police?

Abstract

Stalking is a concern on college campuses and it often goes unreported to authorities. This study seeks to determine whether gender of the respondent, gender of the victim/offender, and relationship status influence perceptions of victim reporting of stalking in a university setting. Regression results indicate that students believe that male victims and victims of an ex-intimate are significantly less likely to report their cases to police, while qualitative data suggests that gender norms, the potential for violence, and shame all play a role in perceptions of reporting. Implications of these findings are discussed, as well as directions for future research.