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Journal of Bisexuality A Systematic Review of Research on Intimate Partner Violence Among Bisexual Women
Abstract
Bisexual women are more vulnerable to intimate partner violence (IPV) than lesbian or heterosexual women; however, they are under-represented in IPV literature. This study used a systematic review approach, combining a content analyis and a literature review to examine the state of knowledge on bisexual women’s experiences of IPV. A literature search uncovered 36 articles published between 2000 and 2016 that explicitly included bisexual women. The authors conducted a content analysis to assess study characteristics. Findings from the analysis indicated most research was conducted using quantitative methodology. Studies tended to use White, adult samples with little bisexual representation. Themes uncovered in the content analyses guided the literature review. Emergent reviewed themes included prevalence rates of IPV and tactics, risk factors for perpetration and victimization, and help seeking and leaving processes. Findings were used to outline an agenda for future research, including the recognition of multiple marginalization among bisexual women.
... A burgeoning body of research demonstrates that sexual minority people are at an increased risk of intimate partner violence (IPV) in societies worldwide [11][12][13][14][15][16], but there is a dearth of research on this form of victimization among sexual minority Colombians [5,8,10]. It is critical to investigate the rates and impact of IPV among sexual minority Colombians, as research shows IPV is a prevalent form of victimization in the country [10,[17][18][19]. ...
... IPV is a prominent public health concern for sexual minority people in many countries [11][12][13][14][15][16], but research has yet to identify the scope of risk in Colombia. We addressed this gap by examining the prevalence of physical, psychological, and sexual IPV among a national sample of sexual minority Colombians while also evaluating differences between sexual minority subgroups (bisexual vs. lesbian/gay). ...
... The novel findings from the current study offer several directions for future research as well as considerations for prevention and intervention work with sexual minority Colombians. While we did not assess the role of gender in experiences of IPV within our sample, several studies find that sexual minorities assigned female at birth and bisexual women are at higher risk of experiencing IPV compared to other sexual identities, including heterosexuals [11,57,61,73]. Recent research outside of Colombia also shows a high prevalence of IPV among transgender and gender-diverse folks [77], including significantly higher rates for the population compared to cisgender people [78]. ...
Colombia has extensive laws prohibiting discrimination against sexual minority people. However, violence and discrimination toward sexual minorities are still frequent. While a growing body of research shows that sexual minority people experience elevated rates of discrimination and domestic abuse globally, little research has been conducted on these issues affecting sexual minorities in Colombia specifically. Using minority stress theory as a conceptual framework, this paper aims to fill this gap by examining the prevalence of experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) and witnessed discrimination and the relationship of these stressors to self-reported health among a national sample of sexual minority Colombians. We found that bisexual individuals experienced higher rates of physical and sexual IPV, compared to lesbian and gay individuals. Additionally, sexual minority Colombians who experienced IPV and witnessed discrimination were more likely to report having poorer health, compared to those who had not. We discuss the implications of our findings for future research and clinicians working with sexual minority clients.
... Queer Theory furthers this, advocating that individuals who do not 'fit' into socially accepted gender binaries and sexualities are considered 'unintelligible', as they sit outside of accepted heteronormative narratives (Ruti, 2017). When an individual is deemed 'unintelligible' they may experience hostility (homophobia/biphobia/transphobia) from CJS officials who adopt dominant heteronormative cisgendered expectations (Bermea et al., 2018). LGBTQ þ individuals from ethnic and racial minorities experience further 'unintelligibility' through amplifications of discrimination and racism (Gill, 2018). ...
... However, research on best practices for LGBTQ þ DA victims and perpetrators within the CJS remains scant (Furman et al., 2017). The focus of this research is often drawn from CJS professionals and service providers' recommendations, without considering LGBTQ þ community perceptions (Bermea et al., 2018). Furthermore, research on LGBTQ þ perceptions of the CJS remains limited (Nadal et al., 2015). ...
... The research derived from a critical realist perspective in exploring the objective reality which exists independent of an individual's experiences (e.g., heteronormativity), alongside the distinction that an individual's perceptions play a part in distinguishing reality (Abdul, 2015). With this distinction in mind, critical realism gives voice to the LGBTQ þ community outside of governing societal narratives, such as LGBTQ þ DA and CJS practices for this population (Bermea et al., 2018). ...
... Broader research maintains that DFV occurs at similar, if not higher rates in same-sex relationships as in oppositesex relationships (Bermea et al., 2019;Guadalupe-Diaz & Jasinski, 2017;Russell & Sturgeon, 2018). Conclusive statistics on the exact rates of DFV in LGBTQA+ relationships are difficult to quantify due to the significant underreporting by LGBTQA+ people (Dario et al., 2019;Fileborn, 2019;Ard & Makadon, 2011, p. 630) suggest 'rates of physical and sexual abuse of 22% and 5.1% respectively [in male same-sex relationships … compared to] rates of 20.4% for physical assault and 4.4% for sexual assault for oppositesex cohabitation.' ...
... For example, bisexual women -the largest group represented in the present study -face unique challenges when seeking help for DFV. Bisexual individuals are often subject to a form of discrimination that invalidates and undermines their sexuality, labelling it as 'just a phase' and bisexual persons as 'promiscuous' (Bermea et al., 2019). In research and policy bisexual women in relationships with women tend to be grouped in with lesbian women, whereas bisexual women in relationships with men are treated as heterosexual -thus, the unique risk factors for bisexual women are ignored. ...
... Perhaps what is striking about the data presented in this study is that the vast majority of participants are bisexual women who had experienced abuse from a male perpetrator. Assuming, however, that these women's experiences are therefore the same as heterosexual women's, presents a missed opportunity to consider broader social and cultural contexts and histories in which bisexual women are located, and the fact that heteronormativity may indeed shape bisexual women's experiences of DFV and challenge and undermine their access to safety (Bermea et al., 2019). It is not, however, within the scope of this article to interrogate these experiences. ...
Purpose
There is an expanding body of research interrogating lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, asexual and other gender and sexuality diverse (LGBTQA+) persons’ experiences of domestic and family violence (DFV). However, few studies have considered LGBTQA+ persons’ specific experiences of ‘coercive control’ and none have considered legal help-seeking behaviours and decisions within this context. This article addresses this gap, through an examination of LGBTQA+ Australians’ experiences of legal help-seeking behaviours when experiencing coercive control from an intimate partner and/or family member.
Method
The article draws on the qualitative responses of a sample of 137 LGBTQA+ victim-survivors who participated in a survey on Australians’ experiences of coercive control. The analysis considers the reasons why some participants did not report abuse to the police, and the impact of police reporting for those who did.
Results
The study found that many of the concerns about the impact of reporting held by those who did not report to the police, were actualized in the experiences of those who did. Further, the study found that LGBTQA+ persons experience similar barriers to help-seeking compared to heterosexual and cisgender women, in addition to barriers that speak specifically to LGBTQA+ communities.
Conclusion
The findings of this study highlight the shortcomings of the law’s response to domestic and family violence and the need for intersectional responses to coercive control in Australia and beyond. The emerging findings presented in this article reinforce the importance and further need for research that specifically examines LGBTQA+ experiences of coercive control.
... An additional limitation is the wide range of IPV measures used, many of which have not been validated (Badenes-Ribera et al., 2015;Mason et al., 2014). Other important limitations in research on IPV among SMW include inconsistent definitions of sexual minority status, with some researchers combining sexual identity and sexual behavior components of sexual orientation, and others aggregating all SMW, regardless of identity (Bermea et al., 2018), or combining SMW and sexual minority men (SMM) in analyses. As a result, we know relatively little about some subgroups of SMW, such as bisexual women and women who have sex with women (WSW) but may not identify as sexual minority (Bermea et al., 2018;Kim & Schmuhl, 2019). ...
... Other important limitations in research on IPV among SMW include inconsistent definitions of sexual minority status, with some researchers combining sexual identity and sexual behavior components of sexual orientation, and others aggregating all SMW, regardless of identity (Bermea et al., 2018), or combining SMW and sexual minority men (SMM) in analyses. As a result, we know relatively little about some subgroups of SMW, such as bisexual women and women who have sex with women (WSW) but may not identify as sexual minority (Bermea et al., 2018;Kim & Schmuhl, 2019). ...
... No prior reviews on IPV have included a broad range of SMW subgroups. Existing systematic reviews and metaanalyses either focus on sexual minority populations as a whole (Kim & Schmuhl, 2019;Kimmes et al., 2019) or specific subgroups of SMW, such as those who identify as lesbian (Badenes-Ribera et al., 2015 or bisexual (Bermea et al., 2018). The purpose of this scoping review is to (1) describe the state of knowledge of both IPV victimization and perpetration among SMW using a broad definition of sexual minority status, (2) identify gaps in the research, and (3) help inform targeted prevention strategies. ...
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is prevalent among sexual minority women (SMW). However, compared to IPV research with heterosexual women and other LGBTQ+ population groups, SMW are understudied. We conducted a scoping review to examine the current state of knowledge about IPV among SMW, and to identify gaps and directions for future research. A search of Medline, Embase, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases returned 1,807 papers published between January 2000 and December 2021. After independent reviewers screened these papers for relevance, 99 were included in the final review. Papers were included if they used quantitative methods and reported IPV data on adult SMW separately from other groups. Findings confirmed high rates of IPV among SMW and highlighted groups with particular vulnerabilities, including non-monosexual women and SMW of color. Risk factors for IPV in this population include prior trauma and victimization, psychological and emotional concerns, substance use, and minority stressors. Outcomes include poor mental and physical health. Findings related to the effects of minority stressors on IPV and comparisons across sexual minority groups were inconsistent. Future research should focus on IPV perpetration; mechanisms underlying risk for IPV, including structural-level risk factors; and understanding differences among SMW subgroups.
... Enhanced understanding of risk and protective factors is therefore required to inform the development of effective prevention and intervention strategies and programmes. A recent review by Bermea et al. (2018) examined IPV among bisexual women and included a broad discussion of prevalence and correlates of IPVaffecting this group. This review builds upon the work of Bermea et al. (2018) by examining factors relating to victims of all genders, including a more detailed and systematic examination of empirically identified risk and protective factors, and providing a preliminary quality assessment of the included studies. ...
... A recent review by Bermea et al. (2018) examined IPV among bisexual women and included a broad discussion of prevalence and correlates of IPVaffecting this group. This review builds upon the work of Bermea et al. (2018) by examining factors relating to victims of all genders, including a more detailed and systematic examination of empirically identified risk and protective factors, and providing a preliminary quality assessment of the included studies. Therefore, the primary aim of this review is to identify risk and protective factors for IPV among bisexual-identifying individuals, and its research question is: which factors are associated with increased or decreased risk of experiencing IPV among bisexual-identified individuals? ...
... These terms were cross-referenced with the terms partner violence, intimate partner violence, IPV, domestic violence, spousal violence, partner abuse, spouse abuse, dating abuse, domestic abuse, dating violence and family violence. Reference lists of relevant studies and other review articles (Bermea et al., 2018;Johnson & Grove, 2017;Turell et al., 2018;Vencill & Israel, 2018) ...
Bisexual-identifying individuals appear to be at increased risk of experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) compared to people of other sexualities. The purpose of this systematic scoping review was to examine risk and protective factors for the perpetration of IPV against bisexual victims and to provide a preliminary quality assessment of the included studies. A systematic search of academic and grey literature was conducted in February 2021. Inclusion criteria specified that study participants identified as bisexual, that the study examined risk or protective factors for IPV, and that findings were disaggregated by sexual identity. All potentially eligible references were independently screened by two reviewers, and conflicts settled by a third reviewer. Nine articles published between 2013 and 2021 met criteria for inclusion. Data extraction was completed for all included studies, and findings presented in a narrative synthesis. The review identified a number of risk factors, including bisexual identity, internalised homophobia, discrimination, partner gender, negative childhood experiences and non-monogamy. One study included consideration of a potentially protective factor. The majority of the included studies were cross-sectional in design. More longitudinal studies are needed to clarify temporality of the associations identified and better inform support and prevention efforts. Further implications for future research, policies and practise are discussed.
... First, it appears important to provide separate findings for gay/lesbian and bisexual youth. Mounting evidence highlight that bisexual youth are at greater risk for TDVV than gay/lesbian youth (Bermea et al., 2018;Pathela & Schillinger, 2010;Petit et al., 2021;Whitton et al., 2019), and they often reported higher levels of known risk factors associated with TDVV, including ACEs, mental health problems, substance use, and sexual risk-taking (Bermea et al., 2018;Feinstein & Dyar, 2017;Giano et al., 2020). Because bisexual youth are more likely to experience TDVV in different-gender rather than in same-gender relationships compared to gay/lesbian youth (Goldberg & Meyer, 2013;Petit et al., 2021), TDVV may operate differently between these two groups. ...
... First, it appears important to provide separate findings for gay/lesbian and bisexual youth. Mounting evidence highlight that bisexual youth are at greater risk for TDVV than gay/lesbian youth (Bermea et al., 2018;Pathela & Schillinger, 2010;Petit et al., 2021;Whitton et al., 2019), and they often reported higher levels of known risk factors associated with TDVV, including ACEs, mental health problems, substance use, and sexual risk-taking (Bermea et al., 2018;Feinstein & Dyar, 2017;Giano et al., 2020). Because bisexual youth are more likely to experience TDVV in different-gender rather than in same-gender relationships compared to gay/lesbian youth (Goldberg & Meyer, 2013;Petit et al., 2021), TDVV may operate differently between these two groups. ...
... The levels or prevalence of risk factors among multigender sexual partners group (but not multigender sexual attraction) also exceed those of same-gender counterparts on many risk factors. These findings parallel an emerging literature showing that individuals with multigender sexual attraction or sexual partners represent a vulnerable population, not only in comparison with different-gender but also with samegender peers (Bermea et al., 2018;Feinstein & Dyar, 2017;Giano et al., 2020). Our findings extend the literature by identifying other at-risk behavior experienced by youth with multigender sexual attraction or sexual partners, including a greater acceptance of dating violence, higher rates of dating violence perpetration and higher levels of delinquency. ...
Sexual minority youth are more vulnerable to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and several associated negative consequences. It remains unknown whether such vulnerability explain their excess risk for teen dating violence victimization (TDVV) documented previously. It is also unclear whether risk and protective factors associated with TDVV in the general adolescent population are also shared by sexual minority youth. Using longitudinal data from a representative sample of Quebec adolescents in a relationship (n = 4,515), the current study aimed to (a) test whether the differential exposure to risk factors account for TDVV disparities, and (b) to determine whether established TDVV correlates vary by sexual attraction and lifetime sexual partners’ gender. Multilevel models revealed that participants with multigender sexual attraction or sexual partners were at increased risk for TDVV and nearly all risk factors examined, including ACEs, compared with different-gender and, to a lesser extent, same-gender peers. The association between sexual orientation and TDVV remained significant when ACEs were added, but not when all other risk and protective factors were accounted for. The patterns of risk and protection factors related to TDVV greatly differed across sexual orientation. The only common correlate of TDVV across groups was TDV perpetration. ACEs were associated with TDVV across all sexual orientation groups, but not after adjusting for other risk and protective factors. These findings suggest that negative consequences of ACEs better explain TDVV disparities than ACEs alone. Trauma-informed interventions aiming at building resilience among youth, especially among multigender groups, might support dating violence prevention.
... Several consequences emerged due to the heteronormative conceptualization of IPV: the tendency to deny and underestimate the SSIPV phenomenon; a limited exploration of SSIPV dynamics; and low awareness of victims and sources of help regarding the occurrence of violent episodes within same-sex couples (Chong et al., 2013;Calton et al., 2015;Russell, 2015;Bermea et al., 2018). As a consequence, there was insufficient training for professionals and an absence of policies and services to address the uniqueness of SSIPV . ...
... Within the lesbian population a utopian conception of intimate relationships and the LGBT community is often held, which contributes to the belief of an absence of violence within lesbian couples (Hanson, 1996;Girshick, 2002;Irwin, 2006;Duke and Davidson, 2009;Bermea et al., 2018). This assumption is based on gender role stereotypes that suppose that women are devoid of aggressive traits and, thus, are incapable of perpetrating violence (Morrow and Hawxhurst, 1989;Walters, 2011;Bermea et al., 2018). ...
... Within the lesbian population a utopian conception of intimate relationships and the LGBT community is often held, which contributes to the belief of an absence of violence within lesbian couples (Hanson, 1996;Girshick, 2002;Irwin, 2006;Duke and Davidson, 2009;Bermea et al., 2018). This assumption is based on gender role stereotypes that suppose that women are devoid of aggressive traits and, thus, are incapable of perpetrating violence (Morrow and Hawxhurst, 1989;Walters, 2011;Bermea et al., 2018). ...
Background: Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in same-sex couples is poorly explored as a
phenomenon compared to its heterosexual counterpart. In 2015, only about 3% out of all IPV studies focused on same-sex couples. As a consequence, it is often hard to find services and interventions focused on Same-Sex Intimate Partner Violence (SSIPV), especially ones that keep in mind specific factors related to sexual minority status; despite some overlapping areas with heterosexual IPV, service providers dealing with SSIPV should be aware of the existence of specific needs.
Objective: The objective of the present work is to provide a narrative review of literature on the state of SSIPV interventions and services on an international level, with a specific focus on the help-seeking process and help-providers’ experiences.
Method: A bibliographic search was conducted on EBSCO (Family Studies Abstracts, Gender Studies Database, Mental Measurements Yearbook, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, Social Sciences Abstracts, Sociology Source Ultimate, Violence & Abuse Abstracts).
Results: The literature review highlights a lack of attention on the development and dissemination of intervention and coping strategies oriented towards LGB people, who turn to informal ways of obtaining support (e. g. acquaintances, friends, family members, community members) or give up in their search for support entirely.
Existing services targeting IPV and their respective providers, despite possessing useful features for dealing with the phenomenon in the general population (empathetic listening, concentration on couple dynamics, protection services) rarely have the necessary tools for dealing with the more sensitive and specific situations of SSIPV cases, such as the consequences of minority stress, relationships with original families, violence dynamics typical of same-sex couples or barriers for access to services.
In their scarcity, existing SSIPV services also tend to only focus on aspects related to identity development and on the impact of minority stress.
Due to a heteronormative view of violence, SSIPV victims tend to struggle when trying to access services, partly because of fears that involve: services not being able to address their needs, services being exclusively for heterosexual couples, the possibility of being doubly stigmatized due to homonegative attitudes. Conclusions: Coherently with the dominant heteronormative view of intimate partner violence, both knowledge about SSIPV and its related interventions are limited as of today. Users and providers alike require more focused services, better training and education on these themes. Therefore, additional services geared towards homosexual victims of IPV appear necessary.
... Empirical studies have found bisexual women are disproportionately affected by child abuse (i.e., psychological, physical, and sexual; Hughes et al., 2010;Rothman et al., 2011), child neglect Roberts et al., 2010), and intimate partner violence (IPV; Bermea et al., 2018;Hughes et al., 2010;Roberts et al., 2010) compared to heterosexual women. A national study found bisexual women had significantly higher rates of child physical abuse (11.1% bisexual women vs. 3.8% heterosexual women), child sexual abuse (38.8% bisexual women vs. 10.3% heterosexual women), and IPV (20.2% bisexual women vs. 9.07% ...
... The impact of child neglect (compared to child abuse), as well as IPV and GAD on attempted suicide may be magnified for bisexual women who also experience minority stressors related to their sexual identity including binegativity (i.e., anti-bisexual stigma that may be internalized; Dyar & London, 2018), anti-bisexual discrimination, bisexual invisibility, identity concealment, and a lack of bisexual affirming health care (Hoy-Ellis, 2021;Meyer, 2003Meyer, , 2013Salway et al., 2019). Bisexual women who experience IPV may have less formal and informal support available to help them deal with the effects of IPV than heterosexual women due to misconceptions about queer relationship and IPV (Bermea et al., 2018) and reluctance of bisexual women to disclose their sexual identity to service providers. Additionally, sexual orientation concealment has been associated with higher levels of GAD (Feinstein et al., 2020) and identity concealment may magnify the impact of GAD on attempted suicide for bisexual women. ...
Objective: This national study examined whether different types of interpersonal violence and mental disorders were associated with greater risk for attempted suicide among bisexual women than heterosexual women. Method: Data were used from participants in Wave II of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions in the United States of America who identified as female and either heterosexual or bisexual (N = 19,261; 71% White). Logistic regression models tested the main and interactive effects of three types of interpersonal violence (i.e., childhood abuse, childhood neglect, or intimate partner violence [IPV]), four types of mental disorders (i.e., mood, anxiety, substance use, and posttraumatic stress) and sexual orientation (i.e., bisexual vs. heterosexual) on attempted suicide. A post hoc logistic regression also tested the main and interactive effects of four types of anxiety disorders (i.e., panic disorder, social phobia, specific phobia, and generalized anxiety disorder [GAD]) and sexual orientation on attempted suicide. Results: Sexual orientation moderated the impact of childhood neglect, IPV, and anxiety disorders on attempted suicide. Bisexual women who experienced childhood neglect, IPV, or an anxiety disorder had 3.75, 1.43, and 6.24 greater odds, respectively, of attempted suicide, compared to heterosexual women who reported these problems. Additionally, bisexual women who had GAD had 1.66 greater odds of attempting suicide compared to heterosexual women who had GAD. Conclusions: Findings elucidate factors that may increase suicide risk in vulnerable populations as called for by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's suicide prevention strategic plan.
... The majority of rape and sexual violence perpetrators were found to be men (between 87% and 98%). These rates have been found by other While there is little research on intimate partner violence (IPV) among queer people, a meta-review of the literature revealed that plurisexual women experienced IPV at higher rates than lesbian and heterosexual women (Bermea, van Eeden-Moorefield, & Khaw, 2018). Some plurisexual women that experience IPV experience "queer-specific victimisation" (Bermea et al., 2018), including threats of being "outed" and tactics to discredit and control queer mothers (Head & Milton, 2014). ...
... These rates have been found by other While there is little research on intimate partner violence (IPV) among queer people, a meta-review of the literature revealed that plurisexual women experienced IPV at higher rates than lesbian and heterosexual women (Bermea, van Eeden-Moorefield, & Khaw, 2018). Some plurisexual women that experience IPV experience "queer-specific victimisation" (Bermea et al., 2018), including threats of being "outed" and tactics to discredit and control queer mothers (Head & Milton, 2014). Further, plurisexual women experience higher rates of childhood sexual assault than heterosexual and lesbian women, and also are at greater risk for revictimisation in adulthood (Hequembourg et As plurisexual women binge drink more regularly than heterosexual and lesbian women, this may be a factor in plurisexual women's sexual violence rates (Kelley et al., 2019;McConnell & Messman-Moore, 2018). ...
Bisexuality is becoming increasingly visible as the diversity of sexual identities is becoming more recognised in mainstream Anglo-Western societies. At the same time, rigid categorisations that views sexual identity as a heterosexual-homosexual binary remains entrenched in our social and academic contexts. As a result, bisexual people face suppression and erasure of their sexual identity. Further, recent movements within queer spaces have led to a shift in the languaging around bisexuality and attraction to multiple genders; bisexuality being only one identity under the plurisexual umbrella. However, little research has explored bisexuality alongside new plurisexual identities and the lives of people who identify with them. This thesis identifies large gaps in psychological literature surrounding the intersecting identities of plurisexual women and examines how discourses of sexual identity – and more specifically bisexuality and plurisexuality – shape plurisexual women’s social and intimate lives, and constructions of their sexual identity. Using a social constructionist epistemology, and underpinned by intersectionality theory and critical feminism, an exploratory mixed-method approach was taken. Data were collected from a community-based sample through interviews (n = 20) and a quantitative online survey (n = 994) with women who identified as attracted to multiple genders. This thesis uses descriptive statistics and a critical thematic analysis to critically explore the ways plurisexual women talk about their experiences and identities related to their plurisexuality and how this is informed by, or contravenes, dominant discourses around plurisexuality. The data indicated that bisexuality and other plurisexualities are fraught and contradictory. Plurisexual women experienced their sexual identities as spaces for political action and as sites for both community and empowerment, and alienation and marginalisation. Dominant and counter discourses were drawn on by plurisexual women to understand their sexual identities. These findings are placed in the context of how new knowledges can lead to changes in how plurisexuality is experienced, to better deconstruct the marginalisation of plurisexual women.
... Indeed, bisexual youth were more vulnerable to some characteristics and forms of TDV (e.g., sexual TDV, threatening behavior) than gay and lesbian youth, which partly supported our second hypothesis as well as past findings (Luo et al., 2014;Whitton, Dyar, et al., 2019). It also echoes with conclusions of authors suggesting that bisexual youth are the most at-risk group for TDV among sexual diversity (Bermea, van Eeden-Moorefield, & Khaw, 2018;Pathela & Schillinger, 2010). Recent studies revealed that bisexual individuals report greater levels of minority stress (i.e., identity uncertainty, sexual orientation concealment, weaker sense of connection to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community) than gay and lesbian individuals (Chan, Operario, & Mak, 2020). ...
... Recent studies revealed that bisexual individuals report greater levels of minority stress (i.e., identity uncertainty, sexual orientation concealment, weaker sense of connection to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community) than gay and lesbian individuals (Chan, Operario, & Mak, 2020). The greater minority stress encountered by bisexual youth make them even more vulnerable to a plethora of risk factors, which can contribute to TDV disparities between both groups (Bermea et al., 2018;Chan et al., 2020;Feinstein & Dyar, 2017). ...
Objective: Sexual minority youth are disproportionately affected by dating violence. Previous population-based studies have largely been cross-sectional, focused on physical teen dating violence (TDV), and neglected some sexual orientation dimensions. The current population-based, longitudinal study aimed to compare prevalence, co-occurrence, and recurrence of multiple forms of TDV victimization (psychological, physical, sexual, and threatening TDV) according to various dimensions of sexual orientation (sexual attraction, lifetime sexual partners’ gender, current/last romantic partner’s gender). Method: Drawn from a representative sample of adolescents from Quebec (Canada), 4,691 students involved in a dating relationship during Wave 1 and/or Wave 2 completed self-reported questionnaires assessing TDV and sexual orientation. Results: Multilevel models revealed that adolescents with multigender sexual attraction or sexual partners faced higher prevalence and recurrence rates of physical, sexual, and threatening TDV compared with their different-gender and, to a lesser extent, same-gender counterparts, and they were more likely to experience multiple forms of TDV. TDV was also more recurrent in same-gender than in different-gender relationships. Conversely, sexually inactive adolescents reported significantly lower prevalence, co-occurrence, and recurrence rates for all or most forms of TDV compared with sexually active adolescents with multigender, different-gender, and same-gender sexual partners. Conclusion: Adolescents with multigender sexual attraction or sexual partners and those in same-gender relationships appear as the most at-risk groups for TDV. Prevention and intervention efforts are warranted to meet the needs of these vulnerable populations. Further studies are needed to better understand mechanisms underlying this vulnerability.
... Other contexts and forms of violence have been thus understudied, even though they are essential to comprehend the extent of biphobia. For example, bisexual individuals experience intimate partner and sexual violence (e.g., Bermea et al., 2018;Walters et al., 2013), as well as discrimination in work and health care settings (e.g., Rankin et al., 2015;Tweedy & Yescavage, 2015). Finally, participants of the 41 articles tend to present homogenous sociodemographic characteristics, a limitation that many authors have themselves acknowledged. ...
Du fait de leur orientation sexuelle et/ou romantique, les personnes bisexuelles s’exposent à des stéréotypes, des préjugés et de la discrimination. Désignée par le terme biphobie, cette forme d’oppression s’est avérée une influence négative sur la santé physique et mentale des personnes bisexuelles. Malgré la nécessité évidente d’étudier ce phénomène, les publications existantes demeurent peu nombreuses et fragmentaires. Par conséquent, la présente revue systématique de la littérature vise à regrouper les connaissances récentes en matière de biphobie. Elle se penche plus précisément sur les articles scientifiques publiés entre 2011 et 2022, dans le but de recenser les constatations et les lacunes au niveau de la recherche. Cette analyse présente ainsi les principaux résultats et caractéristiques de 41 articles examinant le phénomène de la biphobie dans les contextes occidentaux. En particulier, trois thèmes sont abordés : les attitudes envers la bisexualité, les expériences de biphobie et les conséquences liées à la biphobie. Le présent article souligne également plusieurs limites de la littérature actuelle et fournit des pistes à explorer pour des recherches futures.
... 2 In fact, Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and other sexual and gender diverse people (2S/LGBTQIA+) may be more likely to experience IPV compared to cisgender, heterosexual people. 5,6 Global research indicates that sexual minority men are more likely to experience physical, psychological, and sexual abuse and stalking compared to heterosexual men 5,7 and sexual minority women experience all forms of IPV more than sexual minority men, 5,[8][9][10] with bisexual women being the most at risk for all forms of IPV. 5,8 These trends with respect to sexual orientation and IPV appear to be true in the Canadian context, as well. ...
Introduction
Intimate partner violence (IPV) involves an individual committing acts intended to harm or intimidate a current or former romantic partner. The COVID‐19 pandemic and subsequent stay‐at‐home orders often trapped victims with perpetrators and intensified IPV. Although sexual and gender diverse people disproportionately experience IPV compared to cisgender, heterosexual people, their experiences are not well documented in the Canadian context. This study aimed to explore the experiences of Two‐Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and other sexual and gender diverse (2S/LGBTQIA+) people with IPV in Ontario and how the COVID‐19 pandemic affected their IPV experiences.
Methods
We conducted in‐depth, semi‐structured interviews with self‐identified 2S/LGBTQIA+ people who experienced IPV on/after March 15, 2020. We audio‐recorded and transcribed all interviews and coded the transcripts for content and themes using inductive and deductive techniques.
Results
Our 20 participants experienced physical, psychological, sexual, and financial abuse. Technology‐facilitated violence extended abuse geographically and temporally. IPV experiences were associated with negative mental health outcomes that were intensified by the COVID‐19 pandemic. Participants struggled to see themselves as legitimate victims of IPV. Although participants regretted being victims of violence, many saw their abusive relationship(s) as a learning experience to inform future relationships.
Discussion
Our findings suggest that 2S/LGBTQIA+ people may experience unique forms of identity abuse and may have difficulty recognizing their IPV experiences as abuse. Ensuring that comprehensive sexual health education is trauma‐informed, anti‐oppressive, and includes information about healthy relationship dynamics, 2S/LGBTQIA+ relationships, and IPV is critical.
... In France, approximately 43% of rape or attempted rape cases are committed by the victim's current or former partner (Ministère de l'Intérieur, 2019). Women are predominantly survivors of male-perpetrated IPSV (Black, 2011), with bisexual women at particular risk (Bermea et al., 2018;ONS, 2018). Given that intimate partner violence (IPV) is at least as common in same-gender as in different-gender relationships (Floyd et al., 2016;Knight & Jarrett, 2017) and also largely affects transgender and genderqueer individuals (Langenderfer-Magruder et al., 2016), IPSV emerges as a pervasive issue across all sexual orientations and gender identities in society. ...
Despite its prevalence, intimate partner sexual violence (IPSV) remains a concealed and poorly understood form of violence against women. Although it is associated with numerous detrimental effects on mental health, very little is known about the subjective meaning of IPSV for survivors. This study addresses this gap by exploring IPSV from the perspective of female survivors within the context of their relationship with a male partner, using interpretative phenomenological analysis. This study seeks to provide a detailed examination of the personal experience of IPSV and to illuminate its meaning from a personal standpoint. We conducted in-depth interviews with seven IPSV survivors who were recruited after filing a complaint for intimate partner violence (IPV) in France. In total, five superordinate themes were identified: (a) “Setting the stage” describes how the complex dynamics preceding IPSV influence self-representation; (b) “Feeling like I’m nothing” describes the emotional experience of IPSV; (c) “Trying to get it, not getting it” describes how IPSV generates intense cognitive load; (d) “Looking back, developing a theory” describes how IPSV is interpreted retrospectively after breaking up with a violent partner; and (e) “Today: living with it” describes how IPSV affects the present. This study highlights how emotional distress and cognitive uncertainty are present on the way to IPSV, through IPSV, and even after filing charges and separating from the violent partner. Additionally, it shows that survivors attribute IPSV to a sense of individual vulnerability related to romantic love, hope, and traumatic childhood history. This study presents unique findings as it is the first one to explore the lived experience of IPSV among a sample of French IPV survivors.
... Abusive partners may leverage power over their partner by exploiting their internalized stigma, lack of outness, rejection from families-of-origin, and other points of vulnerability (Bermea & Van Eeden-Moorefield, 2023). Examples of this include using their partner's sexual identity or gender against them by questioning or belittling their identities, using homophobic, biphobic, and/or transphobic language, deliberately misgendering them, threatening to "out" them, controlling gender affirmation processes, threatening to turn members of the community against them, or physically or sexually calling attention to their bodies (Balsam & Szymanski, 2005;Bermea et al., 2018;Bermea & Van Eeden-Moorefield, 2023;Dyar et al., 2019;Guadalupe-Diaz & Anthony, 2017;Peitzmeier et al., 2021;Scheer et al., 2019;Woulfe & Goodman, 2018). A trans woman in Guadalupe-Diaz's study of IPV among transgender people reported that her partner said to her, when she tried to assert herself in the relationship: ...
Little empirical research has investigated coercive tactics and their impacts on victims of intimate partner violence. Abusers may consciously exploit these tactics to suppress the abused partner’s independence, reduce the likelihood of exposure, and enable continued abuse. In turn, these have predictable impacts on victims’ self-esteem and agency, while also increasing dependence and self-blame and even lowering their awareness that what is happening is abusive. These strategies serve to decrease the likelihood of exposure of the violence so that the abuse can continue unabated. To demonstrate this, in this narrative review, I bring together research on abusers’ controlling and coercive tactics to demonstrate how these are both used strategically and intentionally, and that they have predictable negative effects on abused partners. Abusive relationships in which coercive tactics are used to establish and maintain control may lead to worse mental and physical health outcomes for the abused partners and may be more violent than bi-directional violence and other forms of intimate partner violence. This review may help to inform prevention efforts, clinical care, and create testable hypotheses for future research. Understanding the patterns of coercive behaviors may further help abused partners decrease self-blame and understand the broader context in which they and their abusers are situated which is vital to better understand the dynamics of violence and to end violence.
... While, relative to cisgender peers, trans young people reported significantly higher prevalence of two of the 10 minority stressor/traumatic events events, relative to heterosexual participants, bisexual participants reported significantly higher prevalence of all 10; gay/lesbian participants, eight; people with other sexualities, four; and, as a group, sexuality diverse people, nine of 10. The high prevalence of exposure to minority stressor and traumatic events among bisexual participants aligns with accumulating research suggesting bisexual young people experience's disproportionately more frequent exposures to sexual violence (Bermea et al., 2018;Coston, 2021). Notwithstanding this, these findings should be interpreted with caution because the small number of trans people in our sample prevented us from comparing the minority stressor and traumatic events experiences of trans participants compared with sexuality diverse young people. ...
Introduction
Population‐level, nationally representative data on the prevalence of minority stressors and traumatic events, mental ill‐health effects, and the preventative utility of school climate, among gender and sexuality diverse young people in Australia, is significantly lacking. In this study, we estimated the prevalence and distribution of minority stressors and traumatic events among young people by sexuality identity (gay/lesbian, bisexual, other sexuality, heterosexual), sexuality diversity (sexuality diverse, not sexuality diverse), and gender identity (transgender, cisgender) and assessed associations with mental ill‐health and the moderating role of school climate factors.
Methods
Using Wave 8 (2018) follow‐up data from a population‐level, nationally representative longitudinal cohort study, the sample comprised 3037 young people aged 17–19 years in Australia. Prevalence ratios for minority stressors and traumatic events were calculated for gender and sexuality diverse categories using logistic regression models. Linear regression models were used to test associations between traumatic events and minority stressors, and mental ill‐health. Multivariate linear regression tested school climate factors as effect modifier between minority stressors and mental ill‐health among sexuality diverse young people.
Results
Rates of traumatic events and minority stressors were highest among bisexual and gay/lesbian young people and were significantly associated with mental ill‐health among all gender and sexuality diverse young people. Highest mental ill‐health effects were observed among trans young people. Among sexuality diverse young people, positive and negative feelings toward school climate were associated with decreased and increased mental ill‐health, respectively. After accounting for sexuality diversity, positive overall school climate appeared protective of mental ill‐health effects of sexuality‐based discrimination.
Discussion
Minority stressors, traumatic events, and associated mental ill‐health are prevalent among gender and sexuality diverse young people in Australia, especially trans, bisexual, and gay/lesbian young people. Promotion of affirmative, safe, and inclusive school climate demonstrates significant promise for the prevention and early intervention of mental ill‐health among gender and sexuality diverse young people.
... However, within the last two decades research on transgender and gendernonconforming people's experiences of IPV has slowly started to expand (Messinger & Guadalupe-Diaz, 2020). A number of studies have also started to pay attention to bisexual victims of IPV since findings from prevalence studies have suggested that bisexual women in particular are more exposed to IPV (Bermea et al., 2018). ...
Purpose
The journey from shame to pride has been described as a founding and essential part of the modern LGBTQ movement. However, the tendency to treat shame as something that belongs to the past has been criticized by a number of queer theorists. The struggle to secure equal rights through normalization has also meant that certain topics that risk demonizing and stigmatizing LGBTQ people further have been neglected. Intimate partner violence (IPV) in queer relationships is one such topic. This paper explores a new perspective on queer shame through the topic of IPV in lesbian and queer relationships.
Methods
Drawing on qualitative interviews with 25 people who have experienced violence in intimate lesbian/queer relationships in Sweden, this paper unpacks the concept of shame in empirical data to examine how shame operates on different levels when it comes to victimization and how it affects the help-seeking processes of such victim-survivors.
Results
Many of the interviewees expressed that they continued to feel ashamed about their denial of violence or their own reactions to the abuse even years after the relationship had ended. An additional layer of shame and secrecy affected the violence and help-seeking processes for the interviewees’ who lacked support from their social networks or who were not open about being in a queer relationship. The interviewees’ accounts also contained strategies to resist and manage shame.
Conclusions
The theoretical and empirical contributions of this paper sheds new light on how shame, victimization and queerness are entangled in the case of IPV.
... Demonstrably, while LGBTQ groups are often collectively conceptualized under a singular category, important distinctions exist between each component identity subgroup that relate to unique needs (see Coston, 2021;Callan et al., 2021;Miles-Johnson, 2020;Bermea et al., 2018) and even intragroup animosity-as may be relevant to bisexual or transgender individuals (Nadal, 2019;Scheer et al., 2019). Sam's example succinctly illustrates that while a service worker may demonstrate exceptional competence in working with one identity group within the LGBTQ umbrella, this does not necessarily translate into either expertise with, or acceptance towards clients from other LGBTQ subgroups. ...
Purpose
This study examined the experiences of LGBTQ victim-survivors who sought out support from domestic violence services in Australia. While the literature on intimate partner violence (IPV) is increasingly focused on improving LGBTQ inclusivity and cultural safety within both service and policy contexts, the experiences of LGBTQ victim-survivors themselves are often absent from these discussions. Consequently, little is understood about how LGBTQ victim-survivors navigate and negotiate service contexts that are frequently optimized for cisgender, heterosexual victim-survivors.
Methods
Structured life history interviews were conducted with (N = 29) LGBTQ victim-survivors aged 19–79 years of age who had recent (< 2 years) or ongoing experiences of IPV.
Results
LGBTQ victim-survivors' help-seeking behaviors are undertaken against the backdrop of a highly variegated service landscape. Individual service organizations and service workers' attitudes towards LGBTQ clients can run the gamut from inclusive and culturally sensitive to heterosexist and exclusionary, with little outward distinction between such. While participants within our study demonstrated the ability to deftly navigate or minimize the incidence of such treatment, there were clear limits to the extent that deploying such strategies would successfully enable victim-survivors to access service support. The additional psychological costs of cautiously navigating service systems were also not insubstantial and contributed significantly to both service disengagement and poorer service outcomes.
Conclusions
Efforts to expand service capabilities to improve service uptake and service outcomes for LGBTQ victim-survivors must be attentive to, and address the impact of anticipated and experienced discrimination on service provision.
... Specifically, age, gender, gender identity, employment, and income were generally found to be unrelated to IPV perpetration. In contrast, when looking at differences across sexual orientations, bisexual people were at increased risk of IPV perpetration in several studies (Bermea et al., 2018;National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, 2010). This result further underscores the double stigma associated to bisexual identity. ...
Introduction
Intimate partner violence (IPV) among sexual minority people has been underestimated since few decades ago despite its spreading. The current systematic review aims to review and systematize studies on factors associated with IPV perpetration within this population.
Methods
Data search was conducted on EBSCO and PubMed considering articles published until July 2022, and 78 papers were included.
Results
Although methodological limitations can affect the results found, the data demonstrated an association between IPV perpetration and psychological, relational, family of origin-related and sexual minority-specific factors, substance use, and sexual behaviors.
Conclusion
The findings emerged highlight the importance of a multidimensional approach to tackle IPV perpetration among sexual minority people and limit relapses, while increasing individual and relational wellbeing.
Policy Implications
The empirical evidence emerged can contribute to the development of policies and services tailored for sexual minority people victims of IPV, to date still scarce and often ineffective.
... Binegativity is thus not only a cultural phenomenon, but also a type of psychological violence that can happen outside or inside a relationship. This is what I call binegative(-informed) intimate partner violence (IPV) a specific form of IPV due to one's bisexual (or plurisexual) orientation or identity 2 (see also Bermea et al., 2018;Coston, 2021;Turell et al., 2018). ...
This article – originally published in a Dutch peer-reviewed journal but updated with extra theoretical discussions – is a tentative exploration of the positions that bisexuality/plurisexuality can occupy in romantic relationships. On the basis of interviews with 31 bisexual/plurisexual people (21 women, 10 men), I discuss how bisexuality is experienced in romantic relationships. Romantic relationships are not just an agreement between partners, but are also constituted by networks of emotions, feelings, and meanings from oneself, one’s partner(s), the social environment, and the wider social world. This article discusses the experiences of bisexual/plurisexual people’s in romantic relationships and reveals the importance of antibisexual stereotypes, mononormativity, and the institutionalization of monogamy as contextual factors but also interpersonal and intrapsychic factors in negotiations of bisexuality/plurisexuality in relations. Partners are, as the experiences of the participants show, not just “passive actors” but may also proactively create space for bisexuality/plurisexuality in romantic relationships.
... Additionally, women between the ages of 18 and 34 experience the highest rates of IPV (National Domestic Violence Hotline, 2019). Those in the LGBTQ community generally have rates of IPV as high, or higher than heterosexual populations (Bermea et al., 2021;Kelley et al., 2012;Messinger, 2011) and face unique barriers to reporting and accessing services (Bermea et al., 2018). Although it is not always possible to determine, it seems that most survivors who post stories online are heterosexual women, although heterosexual men and some LGBTQ individuals share stories as well. ...
Purpose
Intimate partner violence (IPV) impacts the lives of millions, damaging survivors and families. Many survivors are unsure how to get help, and have limited access to resources. In recent years, those affected by IPV have turned online for answers, support, and to share their experiences. This study examined the online dialogue between survivors of violence and those who respond to their posts.
Method
Data consisted of 451 responses to IPV survivors on the website Reddit in a domestic violence subgroup. Responses were analyzed using a combination of grounded theory coding techniques with content analysis tools to generate categories and subcategories.
Results
Three main categories emerged from the data, including support, sharing experiences, and sharing information. The subcategories included specific types of help, advice, understanding, and were overwhelmingly positive in their tone and content.
Conclusions
Findings suggest that online forums may help bridge the gap between survivors and resources. Professionals who work with IPV or create policies can use these findings to understand how to help survivors find support. This may include encouraging survivors to connect with informal supports such as family and friends, or access formal support such as hotlines, therapy, or legal counsel. The findings also suggest that more research is needed to understand what types of questions survivors of violence have, and what outcomes result from online support.
... This extends previous research in high-school samples pointing to higher rates of sexual violence and dating violence among sexual minority students (Martin-Storey et al., 2021;Norris & Orchowski, 2020). Among older populations, bisexual individuals tend to experience the highest rates of violence victimization, especially in terms of sexual violence and dating or intimate partner violence (Bermea, van Eeden-Moorefield, & Khaw, 2018;Dickerson-Amaya & Coston, 2019;Flanders, Anderson, Tarasoff, & Robinson, 2019), but additional research is needed for exploring when these patterns emerge. Attraction to only boys, regardless of youth gender, was associated with higher prevalence of recent bullying and sexual harassment victimization than attraction to only girls. ...
Sexual minority youth (SMY) are at increased risk for interpersonal violence victimization compared to heterosexual youth. The current study examined how self-reported victimization (i.e., bullying, sexual harassment and dating violence) among middle school youth varied as a function of sexual/romantic attraction as well as gender identity. Cross-sectional data were gathered from students at seven middle schools in New England (n = 2245). Mean comparisons with post-hoc Tukey tests determined differences in rates of past 6-month and lifetime interpersonal violence victimization by sexual/romantic attraction and the intersection of gender and attraction. As hypothesized, interpersonal violence victimization among middle school youth differed as a function of sexual/romantic attraction as well as gender. To date, most research has focused on older samples, particularly high-school youth and young adults. These data are consistent with these prior studies documenting increased risk for interpersonal violence victimization among youth who indicate same-gender attraction but add to the literature in demonstrating the expansive forms of peer victimization that same-gender-attracted youth already experience by early adolescence. Given that victimization is associated acutely and longitudinally with many deleterious outcomes, including poorer mental health and increased risk for subsequent victimization, greater structural supports are needed for early adolescent SMY.
... Discrimination and exclusion in SM communities has ranged from invalidation of individuals' preferred identity labels to explicit exclusion from SM spaces, especially if SM individuals are currently in heterosexual relationships (e.g., Arriaga & Parent, 2019; Dyar et al., 2014;Flanders et al., 2017;Morandini et al., 2018;Sarno et al., 2020). While limited, quantitative research has implicated SMs in heterosexual relationships have worse mental health, poor alcohol-related outcomes, and greater SM-related intimate partner violence than SM in exclusively nonheterosexual relationships (Bermea et al., 2018;Dyar et al., 2014;Molina et al., 2015;Vencill et al., 2017). Studies have attributed these within-group health differences to the invalidation of the bisexual and nonmonosexual identities, although this work has not distinguished between societal versus SM community invalidation (Dyar et al., 2014;Molina et al., 2015). ...
Understanding and addressing health inequities calls for enhanced theoretical and empirical attention to multiple forms of stigma and its influence on health behaviors and health outcomes within marginalized communities. While recent scholarship highlights the role of structural stigma on between-group health disparities, the extant literature has yet to elucidate the mechanisms through which structural stigma gives rise to within-group health disparities. In this article, we review and use relevant literature to inform the development of a conceptual model outlining how structural stigma contributes to within-group health disparities by creating division and tension within communities marginalized due to their social statuses and identities. We specifically focus on disparities among (1) communities of color due to White supremacy, (2) gender and sexual minority communities due to patriarchy and heterosexism, and (3) the disability community due to ableism. We argue that the nature and extent of the stigma members of stigmatized communities face are intricately tied to how visible the stigmatized characteristic is to others. By visibility, we refer to characteristics that are more easily perceived by others, and reveal a person’s social identity (e.g., race/ethnicity, nativity, relationship status, gender expression, and disability status). This paper advances the literature by discussing the implications of the model for future research, practice, and policy, including the importance of acknowledging the ways in which structural stigma intentionally disrupts the collective identity and solidarity of communities and consequently threatens health equity.
... result in active denial and suppression of awareness of SSIPV by members of the community, who may be entrenched in viewing intimate relationships in the LGBT community as ideal (Bermea et al., 2018;Girshick, 2002). Service providers dealing with IPV (e.g. ...
Introduction: Media representation of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) can influence public opinion and understanding of the phenomena, and guide health policies. The current review has the aim to explore and discuss international, scientific literature focused on the portrayal of IPV in written forms of news media.
Method: Searching through EBSCO and PubMed, 2435 studies were found and 41 were included in the current review.
Results: Bias in the portrayal of IPV was found within the studies included. While IPV-related news were mainly focused on male-perpetrated violence within heterosexual couples, little attention was paid to Same Sex Intimate Partner Violence (SSIPV). Newsworthy stories dominate IPV reporting within news media and a sensationalistic style was often employed. Furthermore, contextual information was often limited and the adoption of a thematic frame was rare, while news media were found to commonly employ an episodic frame. Official sources and family, friends and neighbours were the most quoted sources in news articles, while IPV experts were rarely drawn on for information. Regarding media representation of perpetrators, mainly regarding male abusers, news articles reported several reasons behind the violence with the consequence to justify and exonerate them from their responsibilities. Female perpetrators were found to be depicted, in some cases, as “mad” or “bad” people. Finally, victim blaming content emerged within many of the articles included.
Conclusion: Bias in the media representation of IPV emerged in the current review, which needs to be addressed to positively influence public opinion and to promote an adequate understanding of the phenomena.
... Inclusivity within queer-affirming IPV services also recognizes other identities (e.g., race) that might make it difficult for survivors to find services (Jordan et al., 2019;Moe & Sparkman, 2015;Simpson & Helfrich, 2014). As queer people of color are disproportionately vulnerable to IPV (Tillery et al., 2018), but given less attention in research (Bermea, van Eeden-Moorefield, & Khaw, 2018), it is important to address this gap. ...
Queer individuals are at a heightened vulnerability to experience intimate partner violence (IPV). However, social supports for IPV survivors are often designed for cisgender and heterosexual individuals. Guided by a queer theoretical lens, this study uses interview data from seven service providers purposefully sampled through queer-serving organizations to explore how professionals can better serve queer survivors. A phenomenological analysis of the data suggests the use of three broad practice approaches: diversity, inclusion, and social justice. First, practitioners and staff discussed how they incorporated diversity by representing their clients’ backgrounds and histories. Second, they described inclusion through creating affirming spaces that recognize the unique needs of queer survivors. Last, they offered strategies related to social justice, such as implementing anti-oppressive frameworks, empowering clients beyond service provision, and being/creating advocates for social change. Together, these approaches and related strategies suggest ways to provide responsive practice for queer IPV survivors.
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a pervasive issue among men who have sex with men (MSM). However, IPV has long been conceptualized as abuse between a male perpetrator and a female victim, leaving gaps in the literature on the unique impacts IPV victimization has for both male victims and victims in same-sex relationships. This study examines relationships between IPV and negative minority stress experiences specific to LGBTQ individuals: overt experiences of homophobia, sexual orientation microaggressions, and internalized homophobia. Participants ( N = 168) were recruited through three popular MSM networking applications (i.e., Grindr, Jack’d, and Scruff. Most were recruited from one state in the southeastern United States. Ordinary Least Squares regressions were used to examine IPV as a predictive factor in three separate models, all of which controlled for age, race, outness, and gay community connection (GCC). IPV victimization is associated with increased levels of experiences of overt homophobia, homophobic microaggressions, and internalized homophobia for MSM. Outness, or being open with the people in one’s life about one’s MSM identity, is associated with lower levels of both sexual orientation microaggressions and internalized homophobia. GCC is also associated with lower levels of internalized homophobia. Results from this study show that IPV victimization is related to minority stressors for MSM. These findings support the existence of unique elements of IPV for LGBTQ victims, specifically MSM. Implications for IPV researchers and service providers are discussed, including the importance of the protective role of outness and GCC against some minority stressors.
The process of seeking help for violence in lesbian couples is complex due to the variety of factors and actors that can be involved. It is a process in which the women may or may not take action to ask for some kind of support, depending on the stage at which they find themselves. However, even though women may realise that they are in a situation of mistreatment or abuse in their relationship with their partner or ex-partner, there may be barriers that hinder them from seeking help. This paper presents a systematic review of the barriers that lesbian women encounter in seeking help or accessing support systems when they are victims of intimate partner violence. Out of 139 studies reviewed, 120 were selected for further review, and 8 studies meeting the methodological inclusion criteria were finally selected. The results of this research show that psycho-social and legal barriers exist, which, within a system of oppression - heterosexist society - do not occur in isolation, but are inter-related, making it difficult for lesbian women victims of intimate partner violence to seek help or access support services. This review finds limitations in the literature reviewed and makes recommendations for future research.
This article is premised on critiquing the idea that bi+people – that is, those with multiple gendered attractions - have ‘straight-passing privilege.’ This assumed straight-passing privilege suggests that bi+people are not equally affected by homophobia and heteronormativity when compared with lesbian and gay people. This article aims to demonstrate that this notion of straight-passing privilege is harmful in understanding bi+people. To explore these arguments, this article uses literature relating to passing and identity management to understand how bi+specific identities relate to these theoretical concepts. Through a sociological lens, this article argues that the idea of straight-passing privilege neglects the real circumstances of bi+people, who experience safety and wellbeing concerns and presumed privileges because of these assumptions. It is correct that bi+people may be able to pass as straight in certain circumstances, as may many lesbian and gay people, but the understanding of this as a privilege fails to account for the difficulties that anyone living outside of a heterosexual norm experiences. Rather, bi+people are subject to biphobia and bisexual invisibility/erasure that impacts their ability to be ‘out’ at all—leaving them ontologically incomprehensible.
RESUMEN
El presente libro ha sido generado en el seno del Grupo de Investigación: “Análisis de Relaciones Interpersonales: Pareja, Familia y Organización” (Facultad de Psicología, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla) y el Centro de Psicología Integral (Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla) el cual aborda un fenómeno con gran prevalencia y numerosos estragos, la problemática social de la violencia que se ejerce hacia mujeres y hombres en las parejas de jóvenes. Es así como a lo largo de sus trece capítulos se presenta: 1) la contextualización de la adolescencia y adultez emergente, 2) la caracterización de la pareja, 3) las principales características de la violencia en las relaciones de pareja, 4) las principales teorías explicativas del fenómeno, 5) las diferentes tipologías de la violencia, 6) la ciber violencia de la pareja, 7) los principales factores de riesgo, 8) así como los principales factores de protección en la violencia de pareja, 9) el fenómeno de la violencia de pareja en la comunidad LGBT+, 10) la prevalencia de la violencia en las relaciones de noviazgo, 11) algunas dificultades conceptuales y metodológicas asociadas a su estudio, 12) la prevención de la violencia de pareja en estas edades y, finalmente, 13) algunas consideraciones científicas y prácticas en el abordaje de esta problemática. Alejado de apasionamientos ideológicos o intereses personales o de grupo, cada capítulo ha sido revisado (sistema peer review) por al menos cuatro especialistas contribuyendo así a elevar su rigurosidad académica,teórica, técnica y científica brindando así al lector interesado en la materia una obra confiable para su consulta; ojalá que cumpla con su cometido.
Palabras Clave: Violencia en el noviazgo, revisión sistemática, prevención, intervención, adolescente, joven, mexicano.
ABSTRACT
This book has been generated within the Research Group: «Analysis of Interpersonal Relationships: Couple, Family and Organization» (Department of Psychology, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla) and the Integral Psychology Center (Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla) and addresses a phenomenon with great prevalence and numerous ravages, the social problem of violence against women and men in young couples. Thus, throughout its thirteen chapters it presents: 1) the contextualization of adolescence and emerging adulthood, 2) the characterization of the couple, 3) the main characteristics of violence in couple relationships, 4) the main explanatory theories of the phenomenon, 5) the different typologies of violence, 6) the cyber violence of the couple, 7) the main risk factors, 8) as well as the main protective factors in couple violence, 9) the phenomenon of intimate partner violence in the LGBT+ community, 10) the prevalence of violence in dating relationships, 11) some conceptual and methodological difficulties associated with its study, 12) the prevention of intimate partner violence in these ages and, finally, 13) some scientific and practical considerations in addressing this issue. Far from ideological passions or personal or group interests, each chapter has been reviewed (peer review system) by at least four specialists, thus contributing to increase its academic, theoretical, technical and scientific rigor, thus providing the reader interested in the subject with a reliable work for consultation; hopefully it will fulfill its purpose.
Key Words: Dating Violence, Systematic Review, Prevention, Intervention, Adolescent, Youth, Mexican
Research indicates non-cisgender and non-heterosexual individuals experience higher rates of intimate partner violence compared to their cisgender and heterosexual counterparts. It is unknown if this is the case for intimate partner cyber abuse (IPCA). Thus, the current study examines IPCA prevalence rates among a sample of adults in intimate partnerships and compares these rates across four partnership categories, defined by gender identity and sexual orientation. We also assess prevalence rates within five IPCA domains and patterns of recurring victimization. Findings suggest victimization experiences may differ across partnership categories and highlight the need for further research with non-heterosexual and non-cisgender populations.
Purpose of review:
This scoping review of reviews aimed to detail the breadth of violence research about sexual and gender minorities (SGM) in terms of the three generations of health disparities research (i.e., documenting, understanding, and reducing disparities).
Recent findings:
Seventy-three reviews met inclusion criteria. Nearly 70% of the reviews for interpersonal violence and for self-directed violence were classified as first-generation studies. Critical third-generation studies were considerably scant (7% for interpersonal violence and 6% for self-directed violence).
Summary:
Third-generation research to reduce or prevent violence against SGM populations must account for larger scale social environmental dynamics. Sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data collection has increased in population-based health surveys, but administrative datasets (e.g., health care, social services, coroner and medical examiner offices, law enforcement) must begin including SOGI to meet the needs of scaled public health interventions to curb violence among SGM communities.
Young Black women consistently report the highest rates of teen dating violence (TDV) in the United States. They are also navigating a world in which they are facing historical marginalization and intersectional oppression. The Superwoman stereotypic role, in which Black women showcase strength and resist vulnerability, is often adapted in reaction to this normalized existence. Yet little research has examined how these constructs are related. In addition, research suggests that a positive racial identity may function as a psychological buffer against society’s negative view of Black Americans and reduce involvement in violence. The current study examined the relationship between endorsement of a Superwoman role and TDV victimization among young Black women. A total of 481 Black women, aged 18–19, completed online survey measures assessing their racial identity beliefs, endorsement of racial stereotypes, and TDV experiences. The results of the path models showed that endorsement of a Superwoman role was associated with increased TDV victimization. Results also showed that racial centrality was inversely associated with TDV; the more the young women felt that being Black was a central part of their identity, the less they reported victimization. Findings suggest a need for attention to stereotype development and racial identity in the development of healthy romantic relationships for Black youth.
The aim of this chapter is to enhance the understanding of bisexual intimate partner violence (IPV) as a distinct phenomenon within the field of partner violence. While bisexual IPV has many similarities to heterosexual and same-sex partner abuse, this chapter recommends focusing on the nuances that exist within the differences. For a marginalized sexuality, it is hoped that such an approach will enable bisexual people to better recognize their abusive situation and enhance the development of more bi-appropriate support. The societal context, prevalence rates, theoretical models, and intersectionality of IPV will be considered and critiqued through a bisexual lens. As the evidence based on bisexual IPV is in its infancy, this chapter will draw upon international research and literature to provide a cohesive overview of the phenomenon. In adopting this approach, it is important to acknowledge the differing sociopolitical, legal, cultural, and economic differences that exist between nations. Due to the unique complexities a minority population may experience in any one country, cross-cultural comparisons need to be made with caution (Gadd et al. 2002; Head and Milton 2012; Sinfield 1997). The objective of this review is that the information provided will help inform, develop, and create affirmative practice and support for bisexual people who experience IPV.
Research on intimate partner violence (IPV) as a public and social health issue is extensive. Originally, it focused primarily on young, White, heterosexual cisgender women and was embedded within a feminist, gendered perspective that framed IPV as male violence against females that stemmed from patriarchal domination of men over women. It is only recently that researchers have begun to study IPV among LGBTQ individuals. The topic remains understudied, particularly for transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) people. Moreover, most of this research has not taken into account the intersection of sexual orientation and gender identity with other social identities. The purpose of this chapter is to explore current knowledge regarding the prevalence of IPV among LGBTQ individuals. In order to achieve this goal, we start with a brief history of the research on IPV both in heterosexual cisgender and sexual and gender minority individuals. We then compare ways in which IPV is experienced both similarly and differently in these populations. Next, we examine several methodological issues that create difficulties in determining the prevalence of IPV among LBGTQ populations. These methodological challenges include measurement issues, defining the LGBTQ population, and adequately sampling that population. Finally, we explore the prevalence of IPV in LGBTQ individuals through the intersectional lenses of sexual identity, gender identity, gender, age, and racial/ethnic identity. We conclude by noting that much remains to be accomplished not only in the areas noted above, but also through the incorporation of the role of other intersecting social identities, including social class, ableness, nationality, and citizenship status.
Thoroughly revised and updated, this third edition offers a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the social psychology of aggression, covering all the relevant major theories, individual differences, situational factors, and applied contexts. Understanding the causes, forms, and consequences of aggression and violence is critical for dealing with these harmful forms of social behavior. Addressing a range of sub-topics, the firstpart deals with the definition and measurement of aggression, presents major theories, examines the development of aggression and discusses individual and gender differences in aggressive behaviour. It covers the role of situational factors in eliciting aggression and the impact of exposure to violence in the media. The second part examines specific forms and manifestations of aggression, including chapters on aggression in everyday contexts and in the family, sexual aggression, intergroup aggression, and terrorism. The new edition also includes additional coverage of gender differences, gun violence, and terrorism, to reflect the latest research developments in the field. Alsodiscussing strategies for reducing and preventing aggression, this bookis essential reading for students and researchers in psychology and related disciplines, as well as practitioners andpolicy makers.
This study investigates sexual minority women’s experiences of objectification in the United States. Data from 5 focus groups with 33 sexual minority women were analyzed using thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006, 2012). Results revealed 6 themes and 34 subthemes grouped into “manifestations of objectification: general and explicit intersections,” “immediate context of relational and situational characteristics,” and “broader context of oppression and privilege along gender and sexualities.” First, sexual minority women’s experiences of objectification included both general manifestations described in prior research with heterosexual women and manifestations of objectification that reflected intersections of systems of inequality based on sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, culture, and age. Second, participants identified novel relational and situational characteristics of objectification. Finally, participants included experiences of stereotyping, discrimination, and dehumanization in their conceptualizations of objectification, connecting their experiences of objectification with broader dynamics of power related to gender and sexuality. Centralizing sexual minority women’s experiences, this study produced a fuller understanding of objectification experiences in general and of sexual minority women’s experiences in particular.
As the literature on sexual violence and its relationship with sexual orientation in women continues to grow, one issue is becoming clear: the need to investigate bisexuality as a correlate of sexual violence and of greater negative outcomes following such violence. Although several studies have noted higher rates and negative consequence of sexual violence in bisexual women, few have attempted to unravel the connections between bisexuality and victimization. In this theoretical article, the authors offer several potential explanatory variables as well as a call for more in-depth research into the unique risks suffered by bisexual women of all races. Drawing from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's ecological model of sexual violence and multiple fields of research, the authors map the potential origins and explanations of these risks by connecting the sexual violence literature with research into heteronormativity and homo/biphobia, studies of intimate partner violence, cultural analyses of media representation of women's sexuality, and contemporary understandings of trauma following sexual violence victimization.
To clarify the role of sexual minority stressors on intimate partner violence in same-sex relationships, the authors undertook a systematic review of literature on this topic from 2005 to 2015. Our results indicate different forms of intimate partner violence (physical, psychological, sexual) tend to co-occur in same-sex relationships, bidirectional violence might be a common pattern; and internalized homophobia, degree of “outness,” stigma consciousness, and experiences of discrimination based on sexual orientation are all related to intimate partner violence. However, these associations are not fully supported by all studies. Our findings emphasize the importance of integrating risk factors typical of sexual minorities with the risk factors predictive of intimate partner violence in heterosexual couples. Therefore, intervention and prevention programs must be designed so as to address and reduce the stress typical of sexual minorities.
As bisexual individuals in the United States (U.S.) face significant health disparities, researchers have posited that these differences may be fueled, at least in part, by negative attitudes, prejudice, stigma, and discrimination toward bisexual individuals from heterosexual and gay/lesbian individuals. Previous studies of individual and social attitudes toward bisexual men and women have been conducted almost exclusively with convenience samples, with limited generalizability to the broader U.S. population. Our study provides an assessment of attitudes toward bisexual men and women among a nationally representative probability sample of heterosexual, gay, lesbian, and other-identified adults in the U.S. Data were collected from the 2015 National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior (NSSHB), via an online questionnaire with a probability sample of adults (18 years and over) from throughout the U.S. We included two modified 5-item versions of the Bisexualities: Indiana Attitudes Scale (BIAS), validated sub-scales that were developed to measure attitudes toward bisexual men and women. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, gamma regression, and paired t-tests. Gender, sexual identity, age, race/ethnicity, income, and educational attainment were all significantly associated with participants' attitudes toward bisexual individuals. In terms of responses to individual scale items, participants were most likely to “neither agree nor disagree” with all attitudinal statements. Across sexual identities, self-identified other participants reported the most positive attitudes, while heterosexual male participants reported the least positive attitudes. As in previous research on convenience samples, we found a wide range of demographic characteristics were related with attitudes toward bisexual individuals in our nationally-representative study of heterosexual, gay/lesbian, and other-identified adults in the U.S. In particular, gender emerged as a significant characteristic; female participants’ attitudes were more positive than male participants’ attitudes, and all participants’ attitudes were generally more positive toward bisexual women than bisexual men. While recent population data suggest a marked shift in more positive attitudes toward gay men and lesbian women in the general population of the U.S., the largest proportions of participants in our study reported a relative lack of agreement or disagreement with all affective-evaluative statements in the BIAS scales. Findings document the relative lack of positive attitudes toward bisexual individuals among the general population of adults in the U.S. and highlight the need for developing intervention approaches to promote more positive attitudes toward bisexual individuals, targeted toward not only heterosexual but also gay/lesbian individuals and communities.
Many states use a broad legal definition of domestic violence that includes intimate partner violence along with family violence, and it is from this broader conceptualization that the criminal justice system intervenes and often treats all types of offenders in the same way. This judicial response can include a mandate to attend a Batterer Intervention Program-type group, which does little to address violence that occurs outside of the “traditional” partner violence paradigm. In order to advance interventions for physical partner violence that adequately address both male and female perpetration, as well as the broader conceptualization of domestic violence, we must align definitions and standards among researchers, service providers, advocates, policymakers, and the public health and criminal justice systems. Examples of how this misalignment has stalled progress in offender treatment are discussed and a plan for enabling continued innovation in the field is presented.
Intimate partner violence is an important issue and attempts to distinguish typologies of intimate partner violence are necessary to understand the complexities of intimate partner violence, its various causes, correlates, and consequences. Over the last two decades, much research was aimed at classifying types of violence depending on the similarities and differences in patterns of violence. However, it is difficult to find a single account that provides a succinct and up-to-date overview of these classifications. As a result, considerable effort is required to identify and retrieve relevant papers to understand each typology or classification of intimate partner violence. This article provides a succinct and up-to-date integrative review of various classifications of intimate partner violence. Typologies by form of abuse, type of violence, type of perpetrator (men and women) are critically reviewed in the light of available literature and the strengths and limitations of each are described. Recommendations for further research are also provided.
Objective: The goals of the present review were to determine the prevalence of physical and sexual TDV among adolescents, obtain the rates of teen dating violence (TDV) separately by gender, and examine the potential moderation effects of age, demographics, and measurement. Method: A systematic literature search elicited 101 studies reporting rates for youth aged 13 to 18. Results: Meta-analytic combination produced an overall prevalence of 20% for physical TDV and 9% for sexual TDV. Significant variability in rates was found, with physical TDV ranging from 1% to 61% and sexual TDV ranging from <1% to 54%. Gender differences in physical TDV were significant for perpetration (boys 13% vs. girls 25%) but not for victimization (21% boys and girls). A different pattern was observed for sexual TDV with girls reporting lower rates of perpetration compared with boys (3% vs. 10%) and higher rates of victimization (14% vs. 8%). Moderator analyses revealed higher rates in samples representing higher proportions of older teens (sexual TDV), cultural minority girls (physical TDV), and disadvantaged neighborhoods (physical TDV). Studies using broad measurement tools yielded higher rates of both forms of TDV across gender. Conclusions: Basing the meta-analysis on a large pool of studies with comparable samples, 1 in 5 adolescents reported physical TDV and roughly 1 in 10 reported sexual TDV. Systematic bias in boys' and girls' self-reports was evident along with high variability in TDV rates across studies and significant moderator influences. These findings are suggestive of substantive methodological challenges in extant studies. The obtained rates should be cautiously interpreted and future research should address the methodological limitations of self-reported TDV, taking into consideration the potential influences of gender, demographics, age, and measurement issues when designing TDV research. (PsycINFO Database Record
Objective: This authors provide an overview and critical analysis of research on intimate partner violence (IPV) among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) persons and discuss recommendations for future research on the topic. Method: Ninety-six empirical articles published from 1999 to the present, examining IPV among samples of LGB persons, were reviewed. Results: Research documents that rates of IPV among LGB individuals are equal to or greater than rates observed among heterosexual individuals. A number of risk factors for IPV victimization and perpetration among LGB individuals have also been identified; these risk factors are similar to those documented among heterosexual individuals and also include minority stress risk factors (e.g., internalized homonegativity), which may help explain increased rates of IPV among sexual minorities. A substantial research literature also documents disclosure, help-seeking, leaving, and recovery processes among LGB victims of IPV, indicating a number of similarities to heterosexual victims of IPV, as well as differences, which too can be understood through a minority stress framework. Conclusion: We identified a number of important future research strategies within the domains of measurement, participants/sampling, study methodology, and IPV co-occurrence with other forms of violence. We also discussed the importance of addressing minority stress in IPV prevention efforts for LGB individuals, and improving LGB IPV service availability and provider sensitivity.
Although research on disclosure following intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization is burgeoning, sexual minority young adults' (lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, questioning, etc.; LGBQ+) experiences have not received equal attention. The current study employed the minority stress framework to examine disclosure experiences of LGBQ+ college students across the United States reporting physical IPV victimization within their current relationship (n = 77). Participants completed measures assessing minority stress and IPV disclosure, and answered open-ended questions regarding the most and least helpful persons/responses to disclosure or reasons for non-disclosure. Results indicated that approximately one-third (35 %) of victims disclosed to at least one person, with friends being the most common recipients. Thematic analyses indicated that talking or listening to the victim was considered the most helpful response and not understanding the situation least helpful. Reasons for non-disclosure centered on themes of the victims' perception that the IPV was not a big deal. Quantitative findings regarding physical IPV disclosure indicated that non-disclosers experienced greater minority stress than disclosers. The current study suggests the presence of differences between sexual minority (i.e., LGBQ +persons) and non-sexual minority persons, as well as between LGBQ+ young adults/college students and older adults and presents a theoretical structure (i.e., minority stress framework) through which these differences may be understood.
This review seeks to synthesize the current state of knowledge regarding gender differences in rates of physical and psychological intimate partner violence (IPV) prevalence among the four largest racial/ethnic groups in the United States, compares rates of physical and psychological
IPV between sexual minorities and heterosexuals and among subgroups of sexual minorities (gay men, lesbians, bisexuals), and summarizes correlates and risk factors that are associated with rates of IPV in both ethnic and sexual minorities. A systematic search of the published literature
in the past 40 years using various search engines (e.g., PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science) was conducted. The review identified 55 studies that met criteria. Few gender differences in rates of physical and psychological aggression were found among African American, Hispanic American, Asian
American, and Native American men and women. Psychological aggression was most frequently reported. Bidirectional violence, which primarily took the form of minor aggression, was the most frequently reported form of physical violence. When unidirectional aggression was assessed, it was more
likely to be female perpetrated, particularly among African Americans. These gender patterns were consistent across general population, student, and community studies. Respondents who reported a history of same-sex cohabitation and those who identified as sexual minorities reported higher
rates of IPV than those who reported only a history of opposite-sex cohabitation and those who identified as heterosexual. Regarding sexual minority subgroup differences, bisexuals appeared to be at a greater risk of IPV, and victimization among transgendered individuals has largely been
neglected in the literature. Substance abuse and use, marginalized socioeconomic status in the form of family and neighborhood poverty, and exposure to violence during childhood as a witness or victim of violence in the family of origin were consistently linked to elevated rates of IPV. Associations
also were found between level of acculturation and minority stress in the form of internalized homophobia and frequency of discrimination based on sexual orientation. However, the complex association among these variables was less clear across racial groups and sexual orientation. Research
limitations and future research directions are discussed.
This study focused on intimate partner violence (IPV) among non-heterosexuals in Flanders. Prevalence rates were explored and compared with heterosexual IPV using a first representative sample consisting of 1690 heterosexuals and non-heterosexual individuals. A second convenience sample consisting of 2401 non-heterosexual individuals was used to determine differences between women and men and to explore associations between IPV and victims’ well-being. Physical and psychological IPV inflicted by the current/former partner were reported by 14.5 and 57.9 % of the non-heterosexuals, respectively. Non-heterosexuals and heterosexuals were equally likely to report physical and psychological IPV. Furthermore, non-heterosexual women and men reported similar physical, sexual, and psychological IPV. However, female victims experienced more frequent acts of psychological IPV. IPV was negatively associated with victims’ well-being.
Objective: Teen dating violence (TDV) represents a serious social problem in adolescence and is associated with a host of physical and emotional consequences. Despite advances in identification of risk factors, prevention efforts, and treatment, the TDV literature has overwhelmingly
used samples that do not assess sexual orientation or assume heterosexuality. Although a few studies have explicitly examined dating violence among sexual minorities in adolescents, methodological issues limit the generalizability of these findings, and no study to date has examined patterns
of dating violence over time in sexual minority youth. Method: An ethnically diverse sample of 782 adolescents completed self-report measures of dating violence, hostility, alcohol use, exposure to interparental violence, and sexual orientation. Results: Sexual minority adolescents reported
higher rates of both TDV perpetration and victimization, and this finding persisted across 2 years for perpetration but not victimization. Findings also revealed that traditional risk factors of TDV (i.e., alcohol use, exposure to interparental violence) were not associated with TDV for sexual
minority youth, although sexual orientation itself emerged as a risk factor over and above covariates when considering severe (i.e., physical and sexual) dating violence perpetration. Conclusions: Sexual minorities may be at a greater risk for TDV than their heterosexual peers. Findings are
discussed within the context of a minority stress model. Future research is needed to parse out factors specifically related to sexual orientation from a stressful or invalidating environment.
The present study examined family of origin, individual characteristics, and intimate relationship variables as predictors of women's reports (N = 209; M = 29.5 years) of physical aggression toward their current or most recent same-sex partner in the past year. Participants completed measures that assessed a series of family of origin, individual, and intimate relationship variables. Results of a least-squares regression revealed that identifying as heterosexual (as opposed to lesbian), higher levels of relationship fusion, more experiences of psychological aggression victimization, and having more prior physically aggressive relationships were associated with more frequent perpetration of partner violence. Results of exploratory models testing whether internalized homophobia or dominance/accommodation were indirectly related to physical aggression perpetration revealed that fusion (i.e., enmeshment with one's partner) mediated the relationship between internalized homophobia and perpetration of partner violence. Similarly, fusion mediated the association between dominance/accommodation and the perpetration of partner violence. Findings underscore the importance that individual and relationship characteristics have in predicting partner violence perpetration in women's same-sex relationships.
Drawing on interviews with 20 self-identified bisexual women, this paper contributes to the limited psychological literature on bisexual women by exploring their experiences of social marginalisation. These (mainly white and middle class) British bisexual women reported that they did not feel at home in either lesbian or lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities, nor in the wider (heteronormative) society. They identified a number of understandings - bisexuality as a temporary phase on the path to a fully realised lesbian or heterosexual identity and bisexuals as immature, confused, greedy, untrustworthy, highly sexual and incapable of monogamy - which they reported as arising from lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities and the wider society. The women refuted these accounts which they stated did not reflect their experiences of bisexual identity and which positioned bisexuality as invisible and invalid. © The Author(s) 2014 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav.
Problem/condition:
Sexual violence, stalking, and intimate partner violence are public health problems known to have a negative impact on millions of persons in the United States each year, not only by way of immediate harm but also through negative long-term health impacts. Before implementation of the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) in 2010, the most recent detailed national data on the public health burden from these forms of violence were obtained from the National Violence against Women Survey conducted during 1995-1996. This report examines sexual violence, stalking, and intimate partner violence victimization using data from 2011. The report describes the overall prevalence of sexual violence, stalking, and intimate partner violence victimization; racial/ethnic variation in prevalence; how types of perpetrators vary by violence type; and the age at which victimization typically begins. For intimate partner violence, the report also examines a range of negative impacts experienced as a result of victimization, including the need for services.
Reporting period:
January-December, 2011.
Description of system:
NISVS is a national random-digit-dial telephone survey of the noninstitutionalized English- and Spanish-speaking U.S. population aged ≥18 years. NISVS gathers data on experiences of sexual violence, stalking, and intimate partner violence among adult women and men in the United States by using a dual-frame sampling strategy that includes both landline and cellular telephones. The survey was conducted in 50 states and the District of Columbia; in 2011, the second year of NISVS data collection, 12,727 interviews were completed, and 1,428 interviews were partially completed.
Results:
In the United States, an estimated 19.3% of women and 1.7% of men have been raped during their lifetimes; an estimated 1.6% of women reported that they were raped in the 12 months preceding the survey. The case count for men reporting rape in the preceding 12 months was too small to produce a statistically reliable prevalence estimate. An estimated 43.9% of women and 23.4% of men experienced other forms of sexual violence during their lifetimes, including being made to penetrate, sexual coercion, unwanted sexual contact, and noncontact unwanted sexual experiences. The percentages of women and men who experienced these other forms of sexual violence victimization in the 12 months preceding the survey were an estimated 5.5% and 5.1%, respectively. An estimated 15.2% of women and 5.7% of men have been a victim of stalking during their lifetimes. An estimated 4.2% of women and 2.1% of men were stalked in the 12 months preceding the survey. With respect to sexual violence and stalking, female victims reported predominantly male perpetrators, whereas for male victims, the sex of the perpetrator varied by the specific form of violence examined. Male rape victims predominantly had male perpetrators, but other forms of sexual violence experienced by men were either perpetrated predominantly by women (i.e., being made to penetrate and sexual coercion) or split more evenly among male and female perpetrators (i.e., unwanted sexual contact and noncontact unwanted sexual experiences). In addition, male stalking victims also reported a more even mix of males and females who had perpetrated stalking against them. The lifetime and 12-month prevalences of rape by an intimate partner for women were an estimated 8.8% and 0.8%, respectively; an estimated 0.5% of men experienced rape by an intimate partner during their lifetimes, although the case count for men reporting rape by an intimate partner in the preceding 12 months was too small to produce a statistically reliable prevalence estimate. An estimated 15.8% of women and 9.5% of men experienced other forms of sexual violence by an intimate partner during their lifetimes, whereas an estimated 2.1% of both men and women experienced these forms of sexual violence by a partner in the 12 months before taking the survey. Severe physical violence by an intimate partner (including acts such as being hit with something hard, being kicked or beaten, or being burned on purpose) was experienced by an estimated 22.3% of women and 14.0% of men during their lifetimes and by an estimated 2.3% of women and 2.1% of men in the 12 months before taking the survey. Finally, the lifetime and 12-month prevalence of stalking by an intimate partner for women was an estimated 9.2% and 2.4%, respectively, while the lifetime and 12-month prevalence for men was an estimated 2.5% and 0.8%, respectively. Many victims of sexual violence, stalking, and intimate partner violence were first victimized at a young age. Among female victims of completed rape, an estimated 78.7% were first raped before age 25 years (40.4% before age 18 years). Among male victims who were made to penetrate a perpetrator, an estimated 71.0% were victimized before age 25 years (21.3% before age 18 years). In addition, an estimated 53.8% of female stalking victims and 47.7% of male stalking victims were first stalked before age 25 years (16.3% of female victims and 20.5% of male victims before age 18 years). Finally, among victims of contact sexual violence, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner, an estimated 71.1% of women and 58.2% of men first experienced these or other forms of intimate partner violence before age 25 years (23.2% of female victims and 14.1% of male victims before age 18 years).
Interpretation:
A substantial proportion of U.S. female and male adults have experienced some form of sexual violence, stalking, or intimate partner violence at least once during their lifetimes, and the sex of perpetrators varied by the specific form of violence examined. In addition, a substantial number of U.S. adults experienced sexual violence, stalking, or intimate partner violence during the 12 months preceding the 2011 survey. Consistent with previous studies, the overall pattern of results suggest that women, in particular, are heavily impacted over their lifetime. However, the results also indicate that many men experience sexual violence, stalking, and, in particular, physical violence by an intimate partner. Because of the broad range of short- and long-term consequences known to be associated with these forms of violence, the public health burden of sexual violence, stalking, and intimate partner violence is substantial. RESULTS suggest that these forms of violence frequently are experienced at an early age because a majority of victims experienced their first victimization before age 25 years, with a substantial proportion experiencing victimization in childhood or adolescence.
Public health action:
Because a substantial proportion of sexual violence, stalking, and intimate partner violence is experienced at a young age, primary prevention of these forms of violence must begin early. Prevention efforts should take into consideration that female sexual violence and stalking victimization is perpetrated predominately by men and that a substantial proportion of male sexual violence and stalking victimization (including rape, unwanted sexual contact, noncontact unwanted sexual experiences, and stalking) also is perpetrated by men. CDC seeks to prevent these forms of violence with strategies that address known risk factors for perpetration and by changing social norms and behaviors by using bystander and other prevention strategies. In addition, primary prevention of intimate partner violence is focused on the promotion of healthy relationship behaviors and other protective factors, with the goal of helping adolescents develop these positive behaviors before their first relationships. The early promotion of healthy relationships while behaviors are still relatively modifiable makes it more likely that young persons can avoid violence in their relationships.
Objectives:
We examined (1) whether sexual minority youths (SMYs) are at increased risk for physical dating violence victimization (PDVV) compared with non-SMYs, (2) whether bisexual youths have greater risk of PDVV than lesbian or gay youths, (3) whether youths who have had sexual contact with both sexes are more susceptible to PDVV than youths with same sex-only sexual contact, and (4) patterns of PDVV among SMYs across demographic groups.
Methods:
Using 2 measures of sexual orientation, sexual identity and sexual behavior, and compiling data from 9 urban areas that administered the Youth Risk Behavior Surveys from 2001 to 2011, we conducted logistic regression analyses to calculate odds of PDVV among SMYs across demographic sub-samples.
Results:
SMYs have significantly increased odds of PDVV compared with non-SMYs. Bisexual youths do not have significantly higher odds of PDVV than gay or lesbian youths, but youths who had sexual contact with both-sexes possess significantly higher odds of PDVV than youths with same sex-only sexual contact. These patterns hold for most gender, grade, and racial/ethnic subgroups.
Conclusions:
Overall, SMYs have greater odds of PDVV versus non-SMYs. Among SMYs, youths who had sexual contact with both sexes have greater odds of PDVV than youths with same sex-only sexual contact. Prevention programs that consider sexual orientation, support tolerance, and teach coping and conflict resolution skills could reduce PDVV among SMYs.
The purpose of this study was to estimate the 6-month incidence rates of sexual assault, physical dating violence (DV), and unwanted pursuit (e.g., stalking) victimization among sexual-minority (i.e., individuals with any same-sex sexual experiences) college students with comparison data from non-sexual-minority (i.e., individuals with only heterosexual sexual experiences) college students. Participants (N = 6,030) were primarily Caucasian (92.7%) and non-sexual-minority (82.3%). Compared with non-sexual-minority students (N-SMS; n = 4,961), sexual-minority students (SMS; n = 1,069) reported significantly higher 6-month incidence rates of physical DV (SMS: 30.3%; N-SMS: 18.5%), sexual assault (SMS: 24.3%; N-SMS: 11.0%), and unwanted pursuit (SMS: 53.1%; N-SMS: 36.0%) victimization. We also explored the moderating role of gender and found that female SMS reported significantly higher rates of physical DV than female N-SMS, whereas male SMS and male N-SMS reported similar rates of physical DV. Gender did not moderate the relationship between sexual-minority status and victimization experiences for either unwanted pursuit or sexual victimization. These findings underscore the alarmingly high rates of interpersonal victimization among SMS and the critical need for research to better understand the explanatory factors that place SMS at increased risk for interpersonal victimization.
Sexual minority women with and at-risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) may face increased risks of violence.
To understand the relationship between sexual minority status and violence; and how high-risk sex and substance use mediate that relationship among women with and at-risk for HIV.
Longitudinal study of 1,235 HIV infected and 508 uninfected women of the Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) cohort, from New York City, NY, Chicago, IL, Washington D.C., and San Francisco, CA, 1994-2012.
Primary exposures are sexual identity (heterosexual, bisexual, lesbian/gay) and sexual behavior (male, female, or male & female partners). Primary outcomes are sexual abuse, intimate partner violence (IPV) and physical violence; high-risk sex and substance use were examined as mediators.
Bisexual women were at increased odds for sexual abuse [aOR 1.56 (1.00, 2.44)], IPV [aOR 1.50 (1.08, 2.09)], and physical violence [aOR 1.77 (1.33, 2.37)] compared to heterosexual women. In a separate analysis, women who reported sex with men and women (WSMW) had increased odds for sexual abuse [aOR 1.65 (0.99, 2.77], IPV [aOR 1.50 (1.09, 2.06)] and physical violence [aOR 2.24 (1.69, 2.98)] compared to women having sex only with men (WSM). Using indirect effects, multiple sex partners, cocaine and marijuana were significant mediators for most forms of abuse. Transactional sex was only a mediator for bisexual women. Women who reported sex only with women (WSW) had lower odds of sexual abuse [aOR 0.23 (0.06, 0.89)] and physical violence [aOR 0.42 (0.21, 0.85)] compared to WSM.
Women who identify as bisexual or report both male and female sex partners are most vulnerable to violence; multiple recent sex partners, transactional sex and some types of substance use mediate this relationship. Acknowledging sexual identity and behavior, while addressing substance use and high-risk sex in clinical and psychosocial settings, may help reduce violence exposure among women with and at-risk for HIV.
A growing body of evidence indicates disproportionate rates of mental health disorders among bisexual women compared to both heterosexual and lesbian women. Such disparities are often attributed to stressors related to minority status, including experiences of prejudice and discrimination. Prior research has made little distinction between the prejudicial experiences of bisexual groups as compared to lesbian/gay groups. Based on qualitative data gathered in focus groups with 10, predominantly White, bisexual-identified women, which occurred in a large city in the USA, we posit that differences in prejudicial experiences do exist for bisexual groups, and that such differences reside in the realms of the epistemic, yet have very real implications for bisexual women's daily lived experiences. We discuss everyday slights and insults, also known as microaggressions, reported by the participants vis-à-vis their bisexual identity. These bisexual-specific microaggressions include hostility; denial/dismissal; unintelligibility; pressure to change; lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender legitimacy; dating exclusion; and hypersexuality. We consider how such microaggressions may adversely impact mental health and well-being and may assist in explaining the mental health disparities among bisexual women.
The frequency of potentially traumatic events (PTEs) and associated symptoms were examined in a cross-sectional study of 97 transgender participants who had been classified as male at birth. A total of 98% reported at least one PTE and 91% endorsed multiple events. Of those with PTE exposures, 42% reported that at least one event was transgender bias-related. Among those with PTEs, 17.8% endorsed clinically significant symptoms of PTSD and 64% reported clinically significant depressive symptoms. The percentage of transgender individuals in this sample reporting clinically significant symptoms was higher than in trauma-exposed samples of men in the general population, but roughly similar to rates of female trauma survivors. Amount of time spent dressed consistent with gender identity was associated with increased risk for PTE exposure and was positively associated with mental health symptoms. No differences in symptoms were observed when comparing those with and without transgender bias-related PTEs. Overall, transgender individuals endorsed high prevalence of PTE exposure along with elevated PTSD and depressive symptoms, when compared to other traumatized populations.
Forty women who had been in abusive adult, intimate relationships with other women were interviewed. Their life experiences leading up to these abusive relationships were qualitatively examined to determine how heterosexism created a social context in which women were left vulnerable to abuse and dependent on their abusers. Childhood abuse, negative coming out experiences, lack of a queer community, and substance/alcohol abuse contributed to survivors’ vulnerability to abuse by making them socially isolated from a support system and dependent on their partners to reconstruct a sense of family.
This grounded theory study examined the processes by which women make custody decisions and manage co-parenting after divorce with abusive former husbands. Nineteen women who left abusive husbands were interviewed. Fears, pragmatic concerns, and family ideology pushed them toward custody agreements that continued their involvement with former husbands after divorce. Men who were controlling during marriage were very involved with children postdivorce and continued to exert control over mothers. As a result, women managed conflict, set boundaries, and resisted control in the context of ongoing fear. Postdivorce abuse, positive changes in fathers, and children’s recognition of abuse influenced how women co-parented over time. Fears, pragmatic concerns, and family ideology continued to influence their decisions as they planned for the future.
Bisexual women often report higher rates of depression and mental health problems than their heterosexual and lesbian counterparts. These disparities likely occur, in part, as a result of the unique stigma that bisexual women face and experience. Such stigma can in turn operate as a stressor, thereby contributing to poor mental health status. This pilot study tested a new measure of bisexual stigma and its association with mental health. Results suggest a moderate positive correlation between the two and point to areas for future consideration when measuring bisexual stigma.
This paper presents preliminary results from a multisite, qualitative study on violence in lesbian relationships. A framework for conducting community‐based, empowerment research that draws on theories of community psychology, feminism, and postmodernism is presented. The study was designed to understand the dynamics of abusive lesbian relationships and social service providers' responses to the abuse. Results from 80 in‐depth interviews with lesbians who have experienced relationship violence are examined with a particular focus on a pattern of first relationships being abusive and a theme of shifting power dynamics. Analysis of focus group discussions with 45 feminist service providers (e.g., counselors, shelter workers, social workers, healthcare providers) reveals the difficulties in assessing the power dynamics of abusive same‐sex relationships and in developing appropriate responses when relying on heterosexually gendered models developed to address men's violence against women. The preliminary results present implications both for how we theorize and research this form of violence, and for improving the practices and policies of social services that work with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered communities.
Objective:
To explore the processes and experiences associated with disclosing sexual orientation to siblings and extended family.
Background:
Few studies prioritize the experience of disclosing to siblings and extended family, despite its frequency and potential impact on the family unit. Extended family members often act as sources of support for youth; it is therefore worthwhile to consider whether this remains true during and after disclosure of sexual orientation.
Method:
Interview and questionnaire data were gathered from 22 lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer (LGBQ) youth, 14 to 21 years of age, from a large Midwestern city. Constructivist grounded theory informed the qualitative methodology and data analysis. We build on concepts of horizontal and vertical family relationships by also introducing the concept of diagonal relationships.
Results:
Participants described their relationships with aunts as possessing characteristics of horizontal and vertical relationships, allowing them to act as moderators and mediators of the parent-child relationship.
Conclusion:
The concepts of vertical, horizontal, and diagonal relationships take into consideration how the structure (e.g., hierarchy, egalitarianism, boundaries) and nature (e.g., closeness, reciprocity, mentorship) of various relationships shape the coming-out process for LGBQ youth, without dismissing the importance of either immediate or extended family members.
Implications:
The emerging conceptualization can guide services and interventions as well as illuminate further research on the family systems of LGBQ youth.
In 2010, the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control conducted the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey. Their findings indicated that bisexual people, with some variance across gender identity, were more likely than any other sexual orientation to experience intimate partner violence (IPV). In keeping with these findings, this study conducted an exploratory analysis to explain these disparities, including the relationships between IPV and stereotypes about bisexuality and subscription to bi-negative attitudes, with a closer examination of relationship identity as monogamous or open; perceived infidelity in the relationship, given the prevalence of the stereotypes regarding promiscuity; and the complexity between the stereotype and the lived experience of polyamory or open relationships of many bisexual people. A convenience sample of bisexual people (n = 439) was solicited via Facebook groups and MTurk. Using path analyses, perpetrator bi-negativity and perceived or real infidelity were the variables most related to perpetration and victimization, especially if the perpetrator was male and both partners were bisexual. Future research should focus on both bi-negativity and infidelity, especially in the context of open/polyamorous relationships for some bisexual people, and the latter's relation to jealousy and anger as a contributing factor to IPV.
The past decades have witnessed some of the most prolific changes in rights and experiences for LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) individuals and their families. Research during this period also witnessed a significant increase in the study of these changes. The current content analysis systematically reviewed all LGBT-related articles published in top-ranked, general family science journals from 2000 to 2015 to gauge the state of this growing field. Specifically, basic descriptives, theoretical foundations, methodological plurality, and inclusivity were examined. Results revealed that less than 3% of articles published were LGBT-related, most were atheoretical and infrequently included variables unique to this population (e.g., outness, discrimination), used purposive cross-sectional samples, focused most on lesbian and/or gay couples, and included primarily White and middle-class individuals in samples. Areas of strengths and future opportunities are discussed.
This article provides a review of sexualities scholarship within the social sciences between 1970 and 2015. It takes an innovative approach by focusing on the way in which bisexuality is addressed in this body of literature. The article reveals the marginalisation, under-representation and invisibility of bisexuality within and across the social sciences in relation to both bisexual experience and identity. Reasons for this varied across the different eras, including the heterosexist nature of the literature, the impact of gay and lesbian-focused identity politics, and queer deconstructionism. In addition, patterns of bisexual erasure and invisibility were uneven, with some scholarship taking inclusive approaches or criticising prejudice against bisexuality. The initial findings of the review were enriched by critical commentary from key relevant sociologists and political scientists. The article concludes that future sexualities scholarship could be enhanced by greater consideration of bisexuality.
The present research investigates the way individuals under the bisexual umbrella conceptualize their sexual identity. Participants included 172 adults who self-identified as bisexual, pansexual, and queer. Participants individually completed an online survey in which they were asked to describe their sexual identity. Qualitative responses were analyzed via thematic analysis. Four major themes were identified and found relevant to all three identity groups: (1) labeling sexual identity, (2) distinctions of attraction, (3) explicit use of binary/nonbinary language, and (4) identity transcendence. Each of the four major themes was further composed of subthemes, and one minor theme of questioning also emerged. Patterns of responses across sexual identity were analyzed via chi-square analyses. Individuals who self-identified as bisexual, pansexual, and queer demonstrated similarities and differences in the way they described their sexual identities. Of the 15 emergent subthemes, six differed in frequency across sexual identity. Discussion focuses on elucidating when grouping bisexual, pansexual, and queer identities together may prove useful, and when it may further distort an understanding of the range of plurisexual experience.
Intimate partner violence is an important issue and attempts to distinguish typologies of intimate partner violence are necessary to understand the complexities of intimate partner violence, its various causes, correlates, and consequences. Over the last two decades, much research was aimed at classifying types of violence depending on the similarities and differences in patterns of violence. However, it is difficult to find a single account that provides a succinct and up-to-date overview of these classifications. As a result, considerable effort is required to identify and retrieve relevant papers to understand each typology or classification of intimate partner violence. This article provides a succinct and up-to-date integrative review of various classifications of intimate partner violence. Typologies by form of abuse, type of violence, type of perpetrator (men and women) are critically reviewed in the light of available literature and the strengths and limitations of each are described. Recommendations for further research are also provided.
Problem:
Sexual identity and sex of sexual contacts can both be used to identify sexual minority youth. Significant health disparities exist between sexual minority and nonsexual minority youth. However, not enough is known about health-related behaviors that contribute to negative health outcomes among sexual minority youth and how the prevalence of these health-related behaviors compare with the prevalence of health-related behaviors among nonsexual minorities.
Reporting period:
September 2014-December 2015.
Description of the system:
The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) monitors six categories of priority health-related behaviors among youth and young adults: 1) behaviors that contribute to unintentional injuries and violence; 2) tobacco use; 3) alcohol and other drug use; 4) sexual behaviors related to unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including human immunodeficiency virus infection; 5) unhealthy dietary behaviors; and 6) physical inactivity. In addition, YRBSS monitors the prevalence of obesity and asthma and other priority health-related behaviors. YRBSS includes a national school-based Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) conducted by CDC and state and large urban school district school-based YRBSs conducted by state and local education and health agencies. For the 2015 YRBSS cycle, a question to ascertain sexual identity and a question to ascertain sex of sexual contacts was added for the first time to the national YRBS questionnaire and to the standard YRBS questionnaire used by the states and large urban school districts as a starting point for their YRBS questionnaires. This report summarizes results for 118 health-related behaviors plus obesity, overweight, and asthma by sexual identity and sex of sexual contacts from the 2015 national survey, 25 state surveys, and 19 large urban school district surveys conducted among students in grades 9-12.
Results:
Across the 18 violence-related risk behaviors nationwide, the prevalence of 16 was higher among gay, lesbian, and bisexual students than heterosexual students and the prevalence of 15 was higher among students who had sexual contact with only the same sex or with both sexes than students who had sexual contact with only the opposite sex. Across the 13 tobacco use-related risk behaviors, the prevalence of 11 was higher among gay, lesbian, and bisexual students than heterosexual students and the prevalence of 10 was higher among students who had sexual contact with only the same sex or with both sexes than students who had sexual contact with only the opposite sex. Similarly, across the 19 alcohol or other drug use-related risk behaviors, the prevalence of 18 was higher among gay, lesbian, and bisexual students than heterosexual students and the prevalence of 17 was higher among students who had sexual contact with only the same sex or with both sexes than students who had sexual contact with only the opposite sex. This pattern also was evident across the six sexual risk behaviors. The prevalence of five of these behaviors was higher among gay, lesbian, and bisexual students than heterosexual students and the prevalence of four was higher among students who had sexual contact with only the same sex or with both sexes than students who had sexual contact with only the opposite sex. No clear pattern of differences emerged for birth control use, dietary behaviors, and physical activity.
Interpretation:
The majority of sexual minority students cope with the transition from childhood through adolescence to adulthood successfully and become healthy and productive adults. However, this report documents that sexual minority students have a higher prevalence of many health-risk behaviors compared with nonsexual minority students.
Public health action:
To reduce the disparities in health-risk behaviors among sexual minority students, it is important to raise awareness of the problem; facilitate access to education, health care, and evidence-based interventions designed to address priority health-risk behaviors among sexual minority youth; and continue to implement YRBSS at the national, state, and large urban school district levels to document and monitor the effect of broad policy and programmatic interventions on the health-related behaviors of sexual minority youth.
Among the crucial advancements in the study of intimate partner violence (IPV) is an understanding of the distinct help-seeking barriers that gay and lesbian victims face. Despite these additions to the literature, transgender IPV victimization remains under-researched. The current study utilized semi-structured interviews and open-ended questionnaires of 18 trans-identified survivors of IPV. Working through a modified grounded analytic approach, two major themes emerged in the help-seeking process: “walking the gender tightrope” in which participants first struggled with gendered notions of victimization that made it difficult to identify abuse, and second, the challenges of “navigating genderist resources.”
This study examined the relationship between intimate partner violence (IPV), internalized homophobia, and psychological maladjustment in a convenience sample of young adult women. Rates of psychological and physical abuse in women’s same-sex relationships were shown to be commensurate to previously reported rates
of violence in the IPV literature; rates of sexual coercion were also ascertained. A relationship was found between Moral and Religious Attitudes Toward Lesbianism (MRATL), a dimension of internalized homophobia, and the perpetration of sexual coercion. As expected, internalized homophobia was connected to psychological
maladjustment. In addition, both the perpetration of psychological aggression and physical violence were associated with emotional instability. The study findings are discussed within the current body of literature on IPV.
Alcohol-related violence and other types of victimisation are prevalent, but unevenly distributed across the population. The study investigated the relationship between alcohol-related victimisation and sexual orientation (heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, other) in a national sample.
The study used cross-sectional data from the 2010 Australian National Drug Strategy Household Survey. Logistic regression was used to assess the association of sexual orientation with three types of victimisation (verbal abuse, physical abuse and feeling threatened by a person intoxicated on alcohol in the last 12 months) and controlled for probable confounding variables.
Of 24 858 eligible respondents aged 14 years or older, 26.8% experienced victimisation. Less than 30% of heterosexual men and women suffered victimisation compared with nearly 50% of gay men and bisexual women. Controlling for alcohol, tobacco and illicit drug use, age group, mental health, Indigenous status and socioeconomic factors, logistic regression, stratified by gender, found that the odds of both verbal [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.52] and physical abuse (AOR=2.04) were greatest for lesbians, while gay men had the greatest odds (AOR=2.25) of feeling threatened.
Across all types of victimisation, some or all sexual minority groups had increased odds of being victimised in the last 12 months compared with their heterosexual counterparts. The pattern of results shows the importance of disaggregating sexual minority status in considering the impact of alcohol-related victimisation and in developing interventions or policies. [Tait RJ. Alcohol-related victimisation: Differences between sexual minorities and heterosexuals in an Australian national sample. Drug Alcohol Rev 2015].
© 2015 Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs.
This study examines important distinctions in sexual orientation identities by exploring the relationships among sexual identity, activism, and collective self-esteem. Past research has revealed that individuals who label themselves as belonging to certain minority sexual identities may experience different types of outcomes; for instance, bisexual individuals have been shown to experience more psychological hardships (Brewster & Moradi, 2010; Browne & Lim, 2010), whereas Queer individuals' politicization may buffer against some of these negative experiences and increase their psychological well-being (Galinsky et al., 2013; Klar and Kasser, 2009; Riggs, 2010). We explored whether these important differences could be attributed to a person's choice of a sexual identity description. An online survey was distributed to Facebook groups affiliated with 33 universities across Canada, which yielded responses from 265 participants. Four distinct sexual identity categories were created and compared in two multiple regression models that controlled for measures of personal and social identity. In the first model, we tested group differences in collective self-esteem and, in the second model, we assessed group differences in political activism. As predicted, collective self-esteem was significantly lower for those who identified as bisexual, and activism was most likely among those who identified as Queer. Our research highlights the need for caution when either measuring or studying aspects of sexual orientation, since these identity categories reflect different personal and political points of reference.
Although research has examined intimate partner violence (IPV) within lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) communities, contradictory evidence exists regarding variations in IPV within this diverse population. Using data from a nationally representative Canadian survey, we examined differences in rates and severity of LGB IPV based on sexual orientation, gender, sociodemographic factors, and previous experiences of discrimination. Individuals who were bisexual, younger, currently single, less educated, and who experienced physical/mental limitations were more likely to experience IPV. Compared to gays and lesbians, bisexuals reported more incidents of violence and higher rates of injury. Implications for research and theory development are provided.
The objective of this study was to explore the subjective experience of bisexual people who have experienced intimate partner abuse to provide a tentative foundation upon which further discourses and research work can build. This study recruited 10 participants (8 females, 2 males) from the United Kingdom. Taped data from semistructured qualitative interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using grounded theory methodology. A theoretical understanding of the phenomenon was developed. The basic psychological process of ‘adjusting for consonance’ described the dynamic process of the categories ‘getting lost in the relationship’ and ‘lifting the veil.’ New insights into the phenomenon are provided and their clinical implications are discussed.
Research indicates that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals are at high risk of victimization by others and that transgender individuals may be at even higher risk than their cisgender LGBQ peers. In examining partner violence in particular, extant literature suggests that LGBTQ individuals are at equal or higher risk of partner violence victimization compared with their heterosexual peers. As opposed to sexual orientation, there is little research on gender identity and partner violence within the LGBTQ literature. In the current study, the authors investigated intimate partner violence (IPV) in a large sample of LGBTQ adults (N = 1,139) to determine lifetime prevalence and police reporting in both cisgender and transgender individuals. Results show that more than one fifth of all participants ever experienced partner violence, with transgender participants demonstrating significantly higher rates than their cisgender peers. Implications focus on the use of inclusive language as well as future research and practice with LGBTQ IPV victims.
The process of leaving an abusive partner has been theorized using the Stages of Change Model. Although useful, this model does not account for changes in relational boundaries unique to the process of leaving. Using family stress and feminist perspectives, this study sought to integrate boundary ambiguity into the Stages of Change Model. Boundary ambiguity is defined as a perception of uncertainty as to who is in or out of a family system (Boss & Greenberg, 1984). Twenty-five mothers who had temporarily or permanently left their abusers were interviewed. Data were analyzed using constructivist grounded theory methods. Results identify types, indicators of, and mothers' responses to boundary ambiguity throughout the five stages of change. Most mothers and abusers fluctuated between physical and psychological presence and absence over multiple separations. The integration of boundary ambiguity into the Stages of Change Model highlights the process of leaving an abusive partner as systemic, fluid, and nonlinear.
This study contributed to the data about same-sex relationship violence with a large sample (n = 499) of ethnically diverse gay men, lesbians, and bisexual and transgendered people. Physical violence was reported in 9% of current and 32% of past relationships. One percent of participants had experienced forced sex in their current relationship. Nine percent reported this experience in past relationships. Emotional abuse was reported by 83% of the participants. Women reported higher frequencies than men for physical abuse, coercion, shame, threats, and use of children for control. Across types of abuse, ethnic differences emerged regarding physical abuse and coercion. Differences across age groups were found regarding coercion, shame, and use of children as tools. Higher income was correlated with increased threats, stalking, sexual, physical, and financial abuses. Preliminary patterns of same-sex relationship abuses were examined for bisexual and transgendered people.
Purpose
Little is known about adolescent relationship abuse (ARA) and related sexual and reproductive health among females who either identify as lesbian or bisexual or engage in sexual behavior with female partners (i.e., sexual minority girls [SMGs]).
Methods
Baseline data were collected from 564 sexually active girls ages 14–19 years seeking care at eight California school-based health centers participating in a randomized controlled trial. Associations between ARA, sexual minority status and study outcomes (vaginal, oral, and anal sex, number and age of sex partners, contraceptive nonuse, reproductive coercion, sexually transmitted infection [STI] and pregnancy testing) were assessed via logistic regression models for clustered survey data.
Results
SMGs comprised 23% (n = 130) of the sample. Controlling for exposure to ARA, SMGs were less likely to report recent vaginal sex (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], .51; 95% confidence interval [CI], .35–.75) and more likely to report recent oral sex (AOR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.38–2.92) and anal sex (AOR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.26–2.46) compared with heterosexual girls. Heterosexual girls with ARA exposure (AOR, 2.85; 95% CI, 1.07–7.59) and SMGs without ARA exposure (AOR, 3.01; 95% CI, 2.01–4.50) were more likely than nonabused heterosexual girls be seeking care for STI testing or treatment than heterosexual girls without recent victimization.
Conclusions
Findings suggest the need for attention to STI risk among all girls, but SMGs in particular. Clinicians should be trained to assess youth for sexual contacts and sexual identity and counsel all youth on healthy relationships, consensual sex, and safer sex practices relevant to their sexual experiences.
Intersectional insights and frameworks are put into practice in a multitude of highly contested, complex, and unpredictable ways. We group such engagements with intersectionality into three loosely defined sets of practices: applications of an intersectional framework or investigations of intersectional dynamics; debates about the scope and content of intersectionality as a theoretical and methodological paradigm; and political interventions employing an intersectional lens. We propose a template for fusing these three levels of engagement with intersectionality into a field of intersectional studies that emphasizes collaboration and literacy rather than unity. Our objective here is not to offer pat resolutions to all questions about intersectional approaches but to spark further inquiry into the dynamics of intersectionality both as an academic frame and as a practical intervention in a world characterized by extreme inequalities. At the same time, we wish to zero in on some issues that we believe have occupied a privileged place in the field from the very start, as well as on key questions that will define the field in the future. To that end, we foreground the social dynamics and relations that constitute subjects, displacing what often seems like an undue emphasis on the subjects (and categories) themselves as the starting point of inquiry. We also situate the development and contestation of these focal points of intersectional studies within the politics of academic and social movements—which, we argue, are themselves deeply intersectional in nature and therefore must continually be interrogated as part of the intersectional project.
Dating violence during adolescence negatively influences concurrent psychosocial functioning, and has been linked with an increased likelihood of later intimate partner violence. Identifying who is most vulnerable for this negative outcome can inform the development of intervention practices addressing this problem. The two goals of this study were to assess variations in the prevalence of dating violence across different measures of sexual minority status (e.g., sexual minority identity or same-sex sexual behavior), and to assess whether this association was mediated by bullying, the number of sexual partners, binge drinking or aggressive behaviors. These goals were assessed by employing the Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey (N = 12,984), a regionally representative sample of youth ages 14-18. In this sample, a total of 540 girls and 323 boys reported a non-heterosexual identity, and 429 girls and 230 boys reported having had one or more same-sex sexual partners. The results generally supported a higher prevalence of dating violence among sexual minority youth. This vulnerability varied considerably across gender, sexual minority identity and the gender of sexual partners, but generally persisted when accounting for the mediating variables. The findings support investigating dating violence as a mechanism in the disparities between sexual minority and heterosexual youth, and the importance of addressing sexual minority youth specifically in interventions targeting dating violence.
Media attention and the literature on lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth overwhelmingly focus on violence involving hate crimes and bullying, while ignoring the fact that vulnerable youth also may be at increased risk of violence in their dating relationships. In this study, we examine physical, psychological, sexual, and cyber dating violence experiences among lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth-as compared to those of heterosexual youth, and we explore variations in the likelihood of help-seeking behavior and the presence of particular risk factors among both types of dating violence victims. A total of 5,647 youth (51 % female, 74 % White) from 10 schools participated in a cross-sectional anonymous survey, of which 3,745 reported currently being in a dating relationship or having been in one during the prior year. Results indicated that lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth are at higher risk for all types of dating violence victimization (and nearly all types of dating violence perpetration), compared to heterosexual youth. Further, when looking at gender identity, transgender and female youth are at highest risk of most types of victimization, and are the most likely perpetrators of all forms of dating violence but sexual coercion, which begs further exploration. The findings support the development of dating violence prevention programs that specifically target the needs and vulnerabilities of lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth, in addition to those of female and transgender youth.
Femicide, the homicide of women, is the seventh leading cause of premature death for women overall. Intimate partner (IP) homicide accounts for approximately 40% to 50% of U.S. femicides. The vast majority of IP femicides are perpetrated by male partners, with .05% of IP femicides in the U.S. perpetrated by female partners. Few studies have examined intimate partner violence (IPV) between female partners and no study (to the authors’ knowledge) has examined female-perpetrated IP femicide and attempted femicide in same-sex relationships. This case study examines IP femicide and attempted femicide among a small sample of women in same-sex relationships. The findings call attention to this important women’s health issue, expand our contextual understanding of violence in female same-sex relationships, and assist health care, law enforcement, judiciary, service, and advocacy professionals to develop prevention strategies and resources to reduce the risk of serious injury and death among women in same-sex relationships.
Submission patterns of articles accepted for publication in Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development from 1990 to 2009 are reviewed. Trends are analyzed in article content (i.e., type, issue, statistical procedures) and author demographic characteristics (e.g., sex, nation of domicile, professional title, departmental affiliation, employment setting).