Stalking Victimization among College Students in Sindh and Their Subsequent Help-Seeking Behaviors: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

Abstract

The present study aims to identify the nature of stalking and coping strategies used by stalking victims to deal with stalkers through their lived experiences. Semi-structured interviews were employed to gather data from twenty participants from a college in the Larkana District of Sindh and analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Participants in the study reported being watched, followed, communicated with, and harassed. They experienced continuous and unwanted letters, calls, text messages, and items, as well as various forms of overt and subtle intimidation, including physical and verbal aggression. The study’s findings indicate that initially, all participants attempted to avoid their stalkers. When this approach was ineffective, most participants turned to other coping mechanisms, such as seeking help from their families and directly confronting the offenders. However, neither the victims nor their families reported the stalking to formal institutions, such as the police.