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Impact

It has been recognized that stalking has an incredibly negative effect on a victim/survivor’s life. Stalking is a serious offense, and can damage a person’s sense of security and integrity. People who experience stalking can also experience symptoms of depression, anxiety, humiliation and post traumatic stress disorder. 

In addition, stalking can also have financial implications. It can be the cause of poor work performance and poor attendance which result in the loss of her job, it can force her to have to buy costly security or investigative equipment, and it can cause her to have to relocate altogether. 1 Along with the emotional side effects of stalking, the victim also attempts to avoid the locations in which she fears the stalker will know to find her—work, home, friends, which can lead to social isolation.

Effects of Stalking

  • Victims/survivors of stalking experience a number of disruptive psychological consequences, including significant fear and safety concerns, and symptoms of depression, anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder. 2
  • Approximately one-third of female and one-fifth of male stalking victims/survivors sought professional counseling. 3
  • Stalking victims/ survivors reported missing an average of 11 days from work, and 7% indicated that they did not return to their jobs. 4
  • While homicide occurs in only 2% of stalking cases, when it does occur, the victim/survivor is most likely to be a former intimate partner. 5

Note: Some of the resources listed in this section are available as PDF files. In order to view PDFs you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. If you do not have this software installed, you can download Acrobat Reader This link will open a new browser window. for free on Adobe's web site.

1Abrams, Karen M., and Gail Erlick Robinson. “Occupational Effects of Stalking.”Canadian Journal of Psychiatry 47 (2002): 468-472. 18 Aug. 2006.

2Tjaden and Theonnes, 1998.

3Ibid.

4Ibid.

5Meloy, J.R. “The Psychology of Stalking.” In The Psychology of Stalking: Clinical and Forensic Perspectives. Ed. J.R. Meloy. San Diego, CA: Academic Press, 1998. 18 Aug. 2006.