Men Victims of Stalking in Portugal: Predictors of Help-Seeking Behaviours

Abstract

Stalking is commonly perceived as a gendered crime, predominantly affecting women as victims. However, males can also be victims of this crime. Research has found that men may experience different types of behaviours and their coping and help-seeking may be unique due to individual, interpersonal, sociocultural factors and traditional gender stereotypes that shape perceptions about the seriousness of the crime and whether and/or where victims seek help. Nevertheless, no research has linked these findings to male victims of stalking. Therefore, the present study used a subsample of Portuguese men (n = 76), with a mean age of 40.49 (DP = 18.14), who self-identified as victims of stalking. The objectives were to analyse their experiences of victimization, namely behaviours, dynamics, impact and help-seeking. Moreover, another major goal of the current study was to develop a model to predict the circumstances under which male victims of stalking seek help. Results revealed that when male stalking victims search for help, it is more likely they are dealing with a higher diversity of stalking behaviours and experiencing a greater negative impact on their lives. These findings have important implications for practitioners and underlines macro-level social recommendations for raising awareness about this underreported phenomenon.