"Intimate partner cyberstalking (ICPS) is an emerging digital form of abuse. However, its mechanisms are poorly understood. The study explored gender, age, partner-related obsession, and sense of control as predictors of ICPS. Sixty-four participants completed self-report questionnaires measuring ICPS perpetration, partner-related obsessive-compulsive symptomatology, and sense of control. Results showed that gender significantly predicted ICPS, with females exhibiting higher perpetration. Prior cyberstalking experience further predicted ICPS, indicating a reciprocal victimisation-perpetration relationship. Age and sense of control did not significantly predict ICPS. Oppositely, partner-related obsession robustly predicted ICPS. Results suggest that ICPS may operate as dysfunctional reassurance-seeking behaviour and pinpoint the contribution of cognitive psychopathology in online intimate partner violence."
