Stalking—perceptions and attitudes amongst helping professions. An EU cross‐national comparison

Abstract

Abstract This study examined recognition of and attitudes towards abnormal, persistent, unwanted attention, or stalking , in two professional groups closely involved in assisting the victims of this behaviour, i.e. police officers and general practitioners (GPs), in four European countries (Belgium, n = 185; UK, n = 118; Netherlands, n = 113; Italy, n = 100). Responses to standardized questions on systematically developed vignettes depicting various male‐on‐female stalking scenarios were examined in terms of responses to a questionnaire on stalking‐related attitudes. Hierarchical stepwise multiple regressions analyses revealed that country of citizenship, profession (GP or police officer), and in particular individual attitudinal variables made independent contributions in explaining stalking recognition and stalking perceptions. Clinical implications are discussed. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.