Comparing experiences of cyberstalking from victim and perpetrator perspectives

This exploratory study examines cyberstalking from both victim and perpetrator perspectives using two questionnaires. A total of 505 respondents of the victimisation questionnaire and 527 respondents of the perpetration questionnaire indicated a cyberstalking victimisation prevalence rate of 14.7% and a cyberstalking perpetration prevalence rate of 2.1%. Victims most commonly reported experiencing repeated, unwanted online contact (98.6%), while perpetrators most frequently reported engaging in online monitoring (81.8%). Relationships between victims and perpetrators varied, including current or ex-intimate partners, friends/ex-friends, and strangers. Common motivations included revenge (44.6% of victims; 36.4% of perpetrators) and reconciliation (41.9% of victims; 36.4% of perpetrators). Findings highlight a juxtaposition in the reported prevalence of cyberstalking by victims and perpetrators, indicating victims most often report unwanted contact, but perpetrators most often report covert monitoring. Evidently, cyberstalking can be perpetrated without the victim’s knowledge and this has important implications for operationalising cyberstalking and identifying victimisation and perpetration rates.