Assessment of Research on Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Among Sexual Minorities in the United States

Abstract

Although sexual minority couples experience intimate partner violence (IPV) similar to or higher than heterosexual couples, not much attention has been given to LGBTQ couples. Using content analysis, this integrative review seeks to examine the state of scholarly literature regarding IPV among LGBTQ+ communities in the United States. For studies to be eligible for inclusion in this review, studies were required to focus on LGBTQ+ populations within the United States, published in English, involved violence between intimate partners, were the result of peer-reviewed, original research, and were published between years 2008 and 2018. Using SocIndex as the search database, a total of 46 peer-reviewed journal articles met the inclusion criteria. This study found that most studies employed quantitative research designs aiming to examine the statistical relationship between IPV and other variables by using surveys. Demographic information of the participants was mostly used as predictors of IPV, whereas health-related risky behaviors were mostly used as outcomes variables that were associated with IPV. Theoretical frameworks, methodology, and policy suggestions used in each study were examined in depth. A discussion of future studies and policy implications follows the findings of this study.

Practical Implications of Research on Intimate Partner Violence Experiences for the Mental Health Clinician

“…Individuals already marginalized by economics, discrimination, racism, heterosexism, and increased adversity and trauma are more likely to experience IPV [48][49][50][51][52]. For example, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ +) and black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) experience IPV at high rates while also experiencing oppression and discrimination [48,49,53,54]. A recent review highlighted that the absence of models of healthy LGBTQ + relationships contributes to this vulnerability [49].…”

“…Marginalized groups experiencing IPV face additional barriers to helpseeking [49,50,53]. Racism, transphobia, and homophobia negatively impact health and wellbeing [54,59].…”

Psychosocial and Culturally-Specific Factors Related to Intimate Partner Violence Victimization among a Sample of Latino Sexual Minority Cis Men in the U.S.

“…The prevalence of IPV in Latino SMM is difficult to quantify due to the limited research on IPV in Latino SMM compared to non-Hispanic White SMM (Edwards et al, 2015; Kim & Schmuhl, 2019). The few studies focused exclusively on Latino SMM have shown elevated IPV rates compared to the broader population of SMM (Feldman et al, 2007; Nieves-Rosa et al, 2000; Stephenson et al, 2013).…”

The Chicago Health and Life Experiences of Women Couples Study: Protocol for a Study of Stress, Hazardous Drinking, and Intimate Partner Aggression Among Sexual Minority Women and Their Partners

“…A number of large-sample longitudinal studies have demonstrated that the lowest satisfaction and the highest risk for divorce are found in couples in which one member is a heavy drinker, and the other is not [ 20 , 21 ]. The association between more nuanced measures of couples’ drinking patterns and intimate partner violence is somewhat more complicated, although it appears that heavy drinking by either member of the couple or by both is associated with an increased risk of IPA [ 22 - 24 ].…”

“…In contrast to studies among heterosexual couples, the few studies on alcohol use and IPA among SMW have largely been descriptive and have had multiple methodological limitations (eg, samples that overrepresent younger White participants or are too small or homogenous for subgroup analyses, lack of guiding theoretical frameworks or perspectives, and lack of dyadic research) [ 20 , 23 , 24 ]. Thus, the links between SMW's drinking and IPA are poorly understood.…”