Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the latent structure of stalking. Stalking can be defined as a pattern of repeated and unwanted behaviours that cause another person to be afraid. The consequences for the victims can be severe and potentially happen over a long period of time. While stalking is considered as a taxon, empirical evidence and an absence of pathognomonic criteria point towards a dimensional structure.

Design/methodology/approach

The aim of this study is to examine the latent structure of stalking using taxometric analyses on the Severity of Stalking Behaviours Scale. Analyses were conducted on a sample of N = 1,032 victims’ accounts, who had contacted the National Stalking Helpline in the UK.

Findings

Taxometric analyses revealed that stalking presents a dimensional structure, and no taxonic peaks emerged. The results were consistent across analyses (MAMBAC, MAXEIG and L-Mode), indicators (CCFI, curves) and measures (items, factors).

Research limitations/implications

A dimensional structure implies that individual variation is a matter of intensity, and the present results suggest that the conceptualization of stalking should be modified. Understanding stalking from a dimensional perspective provides support to study stalking in non-clinical populations. Scales that measure stalking should provide discrimination along the entire continuum rather than focusing on putative taxonic boundaries and arbitrary threshold.

Originality/value

This paper is proposing the first set of taxometric analyses on stalking. The results are providing empirical support to the idea that stalking exists on a continuum. It also strengthened the validity of previous findings in non-clinical populations and their applications all along the continuum, including with clinical populations.

中文翻译：

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披着羊皮的狼：跟踪行为维度结构的分类学证据

目的

这项研究的目的是检查跟踪的潜在结构。跟踪可以定义为导致他人害怕的重复和不受欢迎的行为模式。对受害者造成的后果可能很严重，而且可能会在很长一段时间内发生。虽然跟踪被认为是一个分类单元，但经验证据和缺乏特征性标准都指向一个维度结构。

设计/方法/途径

本研究的目的是使用对跟踪行为严重程度量表的分类分析来检查跟踪的潜在结构。对N = 1,032 名受害者的账户样本进行了分析，他们联系了英国的国家跟踪热线。

发现

分类分析表明，缠扰行为呈现出维度结构，并且没有出现分类峰。结果在分析（MAMBAC、MAXEIG 和 L-Mode）、指标（CCFI、曲线）和测量（项目、因素）中是一致的。

研究局限性/影响

维度结构意味着个体差异是强度的问题，目前的结果表明应该修改缠扰行为的概念化。从维度的角度理解跟踪行为为研究非临床人群中的跟踪行为提供了支持。衡量缠扰行为的尺度应该提供整个连续体的歧视，而不是关注假定的分类边界和任意阈值。

原创性/价值

本文提出了第一套关于缠扰行为的分类学分析。结果为跟踪存在于连续统一体中的观点提供了实证支持。它还加强了以前在非临床人群中发现的有效性及其在整个连续体中的应用，包括临床人群。