Patricia Tjaden’s research while affiliated with Center for Economic and Policy Research and other places

To further the understanding of coworker violence, we analyzed data from the National Violence Against Women (NVAW) Survey on the prevalence and characteristics of coworker violence among women and men, and compared the prevalence of coworker violence with violence perpetrated by other types of perpetrators. The NVAW Survey was conducted during November 1995-May 1996 and consists of telephone interviews with a representative sample of 8000 U.S. women and 8000 U.S. men aged > or = 18 years about their experiences as victims of violence by all types of perpetrators, including coworkers. Lifetime coworker victimization rates varied significantly between women and men (1.1% and 2.3%, respectively), while annual victimization rates were the same (0.1%). Both women and men were more likely to be victimized by a stranger, intimate partner, or other type of acquaintance/family member than a coworker. Women victims of coworker violence were significantly more likely than their men counterparts to be raped or stalked, and significantly less likely to be physically assaulted. No significant differences were found between female and male coworker violence victims with respect to race, age, education, or rate of injury; however, female victims were significantly more likely to lose time from work as a result of their victimization and to report their victimization to the police. An estimated 1.1 million U.S. women and 2.3 million U.S. men have ever been victimized by a current or former coworker, while 100,697 U.S. women and 92,748 U.S. men are victimized by a current or former coworker annually.

Background: To further the understanding of coworker violence, we analyzed data from the National Violence Against Women (NVAW) Survey on the prevalence and characteristics of coworker violence among women and men, and compared the prevalence of coworker violence with violence perpetrated by other types of perpetrators.Methods: The NVAW Survey was conducted during November 1995–May 1996 and consists of telephone interviews with a representative sample of 8000 U.S. women and 8000 U.S. men aged ≥18 years about their experiences as victims of violence by all types of perpetrators, including coworkers.Results: Lifetime coworker victimization rates varied significantly between women and men (1.1% and 2.3%, respectively), while annual victimization rates were the same (0.1%). Both women and men were more likely to be victimized by a stranger, intimate partner, or other type of acquaintance/family member than a coworker. Women victims of coworker violence were significantly more likely than their men counterparts to be raped or stalked, and significantly less likely to be physically assaulted. No significant differences were found between female and male coworker violence victims with respect to race, age, education, or rate of injury; however, female victims were significantly more likely to lose time from work as a result of their victimization and to report their victimization to the police.Conclusions: An estimated 1.1 million U.S. women and 2.3 million U.S. men have ever been victimized by a current or former coworker, while 100,697 U.S. women and 92,748 U.S. men are victimized by a current or former coworker annually.

A review of 1,785 domestic violence crime reports generated by the Colorado Springs Police Department found that 1 in 6 (16.5 percent) contained evidence the suspect stalked the victim. Female victims were significantly more likely than male victims to allege stalking by their partners (18.3 vs. 10.5 percent). Most stalkers were former rather than current intimates. Regardless of victims' gender, reports with stalking allegations were significantly less likely to mention physical abuse or victim injury in the presenting condition, to involve households with children, or to involve victims and suspects who were using alcohol at the time of the report. Female victims who alleged stalking by their partner were significantly less likely than female victims who did not allege stalking to be emotionally distraught at the time of the report, but significantly more likely to have an active restraining order against the suspect, and to sign releases to facilitate the police investigation. Police almost never charged domestic violence stalking suspects with stalking, preferring instead to charge them with harassment or violation of a restraining order.

Using data from a telephone survey of 8,000 U.S. men and 8,000 U.S. women, this study compares the prevalence and consequences of violence perpetrated against men and women by marital and opposite-sex cohabiting partners. The study found that married/cohabiting women reported significantly more intimate perpetrated rape, physical assault, and stalking than did married/cohabiting men, whether the time period considered was the respondent's lifetime or the 12 months preceding the survey. Women also reported more frequent and longer lasting victimization, fear of bodily injury, time lost from work, injuries, and use of medical, mental health, and justice system services.

Because stalking has only recently been recognized as a serious social problem and criminal justice concern, it is not surprising that there is little consensus among lawmakers about what constitutes stalking. To further understanding of how legal definitions and victim definitions of stalking intersect and diverge, this study compares stalking prevalence using a definition of stalking that is based on the model antistalking code for states developed by the Federal government versus a definition of stalking that is victim delineated. Data for the study come from a national telephone survey that queried 8,000 men and 8,000 women about their experiences with stalking victimization using both direct questions that contained the word "stalking" and behaviorally specific questions. Results show that prevalence estimates increase when respondents are allowed to self-define stalking victimization. However, victim definitions of stalking tend to converge with the model antistalking code's definition of stalking in the vast majority of cases. Only 4% of survey respondents defined themselves as stalking victims but failed to meet the legal definition of a stalking victim. A negligible proportion denied being stalked despite the fact they met the legal definition of a stalking victim.

Using data from a nationally representative telephone survey that was conducted from November 1995 to May 1996, this study compares lifetime experiences with violent victimization among men and women with a history of same-sex cohabitation and their counterparts with a history of marriage and/or opposite-sex cohabitation only. The study found that respondents who had lived with a same-sex intimate partner were significantly more likely than respondents who had married or lived with an opposite-sex partner only to have been: (a) raped as minors and adults; (b) physically assaulted as children by adult caretakers; and (c) physically assaulted as adults by all types of perpetrators, including intimate partners. The study also confirms previous reports that intimate partner violence is more prevalent among gay male couples than heterosexual couples. However, it contradicts reports that intimate partner violence is more prevalent among lesbian couples than heterosexual couples. Overall study findings suggest that intimate partner violence is perpetrated primarily by men, whether against same-sex or opposite-sex partners.