Associations Between Mind Wandering and Stalking-Related Behavior: The Roles of Distress and Motivation

Abstract Stalking cases frequently involve serious risks to victims. Developing effective psychological interventions to reduce recidivism in stalking offenders requires the identification of modifiable risk factors associated with stalking-related behavior (SRB). This study explored the associations between mind wandering, post-breakup distress, stalking motivations (the desire for reconciliation and revenge), and SRB following romantic rejection. Participants in this investigation comprised 673 Japanese individuals aged 20–59 years who had experienced romantic rejection through messages such as “I don’t want to see you anymore” and “Don’t contact me.” Mind wandering was measured using a thought-sampling approach alongside the online Sustained Attention to Response Task. Path analysis among the variables was conducted using structural equation modeling. The results revealed that mind wandering was positively associated with the desire for revenge, which in turn was significantly positively associated with the frequency of SRB in both men and women. Additionally, among men, mind wandering was negatively associated with distress, while distress was significantly positively associated with the persistence of SRB. These findings suggest that, among men, lower levels of mind wandering were associated with greater distress, which was in turn associated with greater persistence of SRB. Thus, reducing stalking behavior may not only require addressing mind wandering through mindfulness practices but also involve implementing emotion regulation strategies to manage the ensuing negative emotions. Future research should examine the effectiveness of combined interventions incorporating mindfulness and emotion regulation in reducing recidivism risk among stalking perpetrators.