Ex-Partner Stalking and Children: The Impact on Children When One Parent Is Stalking the Other

Provides an authoritative overview of stalking behavior perpetrated by parents and its impacts on children

Stalking targeted at one of the child’s parents by the other poses a major psychosocial and physical threat to children’s wellbeing and security. Although interdisciplinary research on stalking has expanded in recent decades, intimate partner/ex-partner stalking has been viewed as an ＂adults only＂ problem.

Ex-Partner Stalking and Children brings together scholars and practitioners from different disciplines in the field to examine ex-partner stalking as a psychosocial and criminological issue in children’s and young people’s lives. Providing both theoretical and practical perspectives, this comprehensive volume explores approaches for increasing awareness of parental stalking, addressing its impacts on children and young people, and advancing interventions and methods of support for them.

Throughout the text, the authors challenge existing conceptions of intimate partner/ex-partner stalking as a phenomenon that exists only between the partners, rather than a form of gendered violence that creates a victimizing environment for the children.

A novel contribution to both scholarly and practical understandings of ex-partner stalking, this important book:

• Addresses a gap in knowledge on the socially, ethically, and legally challenging phenomenon of cases when one parent is stalking the other
• Offers insights and tools to help practitioners better recognize, support, and intervene in parental stalking situations involving children
• Examines research findings on stalking behavior, including psychological and trauma perspectives
• Discusses best practices and working methods, challenges in identifying the child’s experiences, and factors preventing children from receiving help
• Recommends future directions in promoting children’s and young people’s rights in ex-partner stalking

Part of the acclaimed Psycho-Criminology of Crime, Mental Health, and the Law series, Ex-Partner Stalking and Children: The Impact on Children When One Parent is Stalking the Other is essential reading for undergraduate and graduate students in disciplines such as criminology, social work, healthcare, psychology, and education, and an invaluable resource for law enforcement staff, nurses, psychologists, therapists, social workers, teachers, and other professionals who work with victims of stalking.

MERJA LAITINEN is Professor of Social Work and Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Lapland, Finland. Her research interests are violence and abuse against children and women, social work and inter-professional, empowering practices with children, young people, and their families in vulnerable situations.

ANNA NIKUPETERI is Associate Professor of Social Work at the University of Lapland, Finland, and a licensed social worker. Her research focuses on different sensitive target phenomena in social work, the methodological questions behind their study, and how to develop systems that better serve people in need.

HENG CHOON (OLIVER) CHAN is Associate Professor of Criminology at the University of Birmingham, UK. Dr. Chan’s research focuses on sexual homicide, sexual offending, stalking behavior, juvenile delinquency, psycho-criminology, and Asian criminology. He is the author of more than 110 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, and eight books.