Stalking, Gender, and Coping Strategies: A Partial Test of Broidy and Agnew's Gender/General Strain Theory Hypotheses

Abstract

Using data from the Supplemental Victimization Survey (SVS) of the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) and relying on theoretical direction provided by Broidy and Agnew's gendered strain theory, we examine gender differences in the emotional reactions and behavioral outcomes to one type of serious strain: stalking. We found females experienced significantly higher levels of stalking strain than males for only one type of stalking strain, the experience of stalking appeared to elevate anger among male victims and reduce anger among female victims, and female victims were more likely to express a variety of nonangry emotions in response to stalking stress as well as adopt a variety of legitimate coping mechanisms in order to deal with their victimization. We also uncovered that one emotional reaction to strain, fear, was more prominent for females than males. The implications of our findings are also discussed.

Keywords:

• stalking
• gendered strain theory
• reactions to victimization
• Supplemental Victimization Survey (SVS)
• National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)

Acknowledgments

The dataset examined for this article was made available by the National Archive of Criminal Justice Data. The National Archive of Criminal Justice Data does not bear any responsibility for the analyses presented here. The authors would like to thank Lynn Addington, Tom Zelenock, and Tim Bynum for their data assistance, and the reviewers for their helpful comments on earlier versions.

Notes

1. In various descriptions of his GST of crime and delinquency, which forms the basis for Broidy and Agnew's (1997) gendered strain theory, Agnew defines “strains” as events or conditions that are disliked by the individual (e.g., Agnew, 2006). Agnew further categorizes these events or conditions into three types of strains: (1) when individuals are unable to achieve their goals, (2) when individuals loose something that they value, and (3) when individuals are treated in an aversive or negative manner by others. It is noteworthy that the type of strains as defined by Agnew that is applicable to the current study is the category involving aversive or negative treatment by others.

2. A reviewer suggested that we replace the term “legitimate coping strategies” with other less value-laden terms such as “problem-focused coping strategies” (see Sabrina & Tindale, 2008). While we understand and appreciate the reviewer's recommendation, we elected to retain this term to remain consistent with Broidy and Agnew's (1997) theoretical conceptualization and propositions. We caution readers that “legitimate” bears no other imprimatur other than a distinction with criminal/deviant coping strategies.

3. The nonwhite category includes African Americans, Native Americans, Native Alaskans, Asians, Hawaiian Pacific Islanders, and mixed races.

4. Our measures of negative emotions were not assessed in response to particular incidents. Rather, they capture the emotional responses to any of the seven stalking experiences.

5. Since the variable “age” is continuous, a mean-difference test was conducted instead of chisquare analysis.

6. The emotion of suicide ideation was not included in the model for males because there were no male victims with suicidal thoughts.

7. A reviewer suggested that we conduct z-tests for proportions from independent samples to compare the observed proportions in negative emotions between males and females.

8. According to the Model Anti-Stalking Code, one prerequisite of stalking victimization stipulates that a victim must fear bodily injury or death due to the behavior of the offender (National Institute of Justice, 1996; Tjaden, Theonnes, & Allison, 2000).

9. Our measure of negative emotions captured the emotional responses to any of the seven stalking experiences.