Development of risk factor scales for stalking-like behaviors following the end of a romantic relationship, and their predictive capabilities

Abstract

This study aimed to reveal the risk factors for a person to perpetrate stalking-like behaviors following the end of a romantic relationship based on personality traits (attachment anxiety and narcissism), the characteristics of a romantic relationship before a breakup, and the emotions and thoughts of a person after a breakup. To develop two scales measuring the characteristics of a romantic relationship before a breakup and the emotions and thoughts of a person after a breakup, a web-based survey of 189 females and 165 males was conducted in Study 1. In Study 2, a national survey was conducted using two-stage stratified sampling; 106 females and 110 males who experienced the end of a romantic relationship during the past five years and did not initiate their most recent breakup were analyzed. The results of a multiple-group analysis revealed that both attachment anxiety and feelings that a partner was his/her "one and only" increased egoistic preoccupations after a breakup, and the egoistic preoccupations predicted the perpetration of stalking-like behaviors in both males and females.

Attachment anxiety and the dark triad increase stalking after breakups of romantic relationships through psychological maltreatment of romantic partners and reactions to breakups

“…This scale was developed based on the types of stalking behaviors mentioned in the antistalking act (Gender Equality Bureau Cabinet Office, 2016) and reported by Shimada (2016). The Stalking Behavior Scale consists of 19 items and has been validated in the Japanese context (Kanemasa et al, 2018). Participants were asked to rate how frequently they had behaved as follows: “I called my ex‐partner several times a day” or “I shadowed my ex‐partner” (see Supporting Information S1 for more), after breakups on a 5‐point scale (1 = not at all , 2 = once , 3 = 2 – 3 times , 4 = 4 – 9 times , 5 = more than 10 times ).…”

“…Stalking behaviors after the breakup were assessed using the Stalking Behavior Scale (Kanemasa et al, 2018). This scale was developed based on the types of stalking behaviors mentioned in the antistalking act (Gender Equality Bureau Cabinet Office, 2016) and reported by Shimada (2016).…”

“…Postbreakup anger and rumination were assessed using the Scale of Emotions and Thoughts after a Breakup (Kanemasa et al, 2018). This scale was developed in a study on stalking behaviors following romantic breakups in Japan (Kanemasa et al, 2018). We used the Anger (four items) and Rumination/Preoccupation (four items) subscales for this study.…”