Disability Type and Risk of Sexual and Stalking Victimization in a National Sample: A Lifestyle–Routine Activity Approach

Abstract

Research findings from national samples indicate that people with disabilities have a higher risk of sexual and stalking victimization than their counterparts without disabilities. While this body of research indicates that disability is a risk factor for interpersonal victimization independent of known risk factors derived from the lifestyle–routine activity perspective, it has not yet been established whether the risk factors of victimization vary across disability type. Using survey data from approximately 40,000 college students from across the United States, this study addresses this issue by examining lifestyle–routine activity risk factors for victimization among subsamples of individuals with no disability, physical disabilities, mental disabilities, and learning disabilities. Results from multivariate binary logistic regression analyses indicate that risk factors for victimization vary across groups, with the greatest number of significant risk factors observed for students with no disabilities.

Correlates of stalking victimization in Canada: A model of social support and comorbidity

“…The model of comorbidity is supported by the data in the present study too. Cannabis use, cyberbullying victimization and total victimization are associated with an increased risk of being stalking victims, consistent with the previous findings ( Fisher et al, 2002 ; Nobles et al, 2018 ; Reyns et al, 2016 ; Reyns and Scherer, 2018 ). The weak effect of the cannabis use warrants further examination.…”

“… Reyns et al (2016) also reported that total victimization (experiences of victimization other than stalking) as a control variable positively correlates with the chance of being stalked. Others have discovered that being stalked is related to psychological correlates of drug use ( Nobles et al, 2018 ; Reyns and Scherer, 2018 ), post-traumatic stress disorder ( Nobles et al, 2018 ), depression and negative emotional reactions ( Johnson and Kercher, 2009 ), personality disorder ( McEwan et al, 2017 ), and mental disorder ( Adams et al, 2009 ) or mental disability ( Reyns and Scherer, 2018 ). In this study, we propose that behaviors such as alcohol consumption, illegal drug use, cyber bullying, total victimization, and mental health may be co-occurring cues of being stalked.…”

The Sexual Victimization of College Students: A Test of Routine Activity Theory

“…However, three of the indicators were associated with SA – sexual orientation, age, and if the respondent has a sexual partner in the last 12 months. Findings regarding sexuality align with previous research, as scholarship investigating SV specifically has considered respondent sexual orientation as an indicator of lifestyle and/or target attractiveness (Reyns & Scherer, 2019; Snyder, 2015). Additionally, extant research suggests that LGB folks are at risk for victimization (Walters et al, 2013).…”

“…Three measures were included as control variables: race, sex, and disability status (Reyns & Scherer, 2019). Race was measured with a dichotomous indicator where white respondents were coded “1,” and students of color were coded “0.” Sex was coded dichotomously (male = “0,” female =“1”).…”

“…Nevertheless, this research suggests that capturing a respondent’s age (Fisher et al, 2002; Mustaine & Tewksbury, 2002) and if the respondent was a first-year student is necessary when applying a RA framework to the SV of college students. Moreover, when examining sexual violence, extant research has considered the respondent’s sexual orientation as an indicator of lifestyle and/or target attractiveness (Reyns & Scherer, 2019; Snyder, 2015). Indeed, previous studies find LGB individuals are at risk for victimization (Walters et al, 2013) and are more likely to be blamed for their assaults (White & Yamawaki, 2009).…”