Romantic Attachment, Internalized Homonegativity, and Same-Sex Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration Among Lesbian Women in Italy

Abstract

Same-Sex Intimate Partner Violence (SSIPV) among lesbian women has been underestimated until few decades ago. While the association between romantic attachment and SSIPV has been widely demonstrated, mechanisms that mediate this association and the complex relationships between romantic attachment, SSIPV, and SSIPV-specific risk factors have not been adequately investigated to date. The current study assessed the influence of romantic attachment on SSIPV perpetration among lesbian women, exploring the mediating role of internalized homonegativity within this association. Three hundred and twenty-five Italian lesbian women with a mean age of 30 years were recruited and completed the following self-report measures: the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R), the Measure of Internalized Sexual Stigma, and the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale Short Form. The results showed a positive association between attachment anxiety, and general and psychological SSIPV perpetration. Similarly, attachment avoidance was positively related with general, psychological, and physical SSIPV perpetration. The association between romantic attachment, and general and psychological SSIPV was partially mediated by internalized homonegativity. These findings have theoretical implications and provide valuable information to implement services and interventions tailored for SSIPV, to date scarce and not effective.

Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration Among Sexual Minority People and Associated Factors: A Systematic Review of Quantitative Studies

“…Perceived power imbalances were not associated with IPV perpetration. Gender expression was not associated with IPV perpetration Tognasso et al ( 2022 ) Romantic attachment, internalized homonegativity and same-sex intimate partner violence perpetration among lesbian women in Italy Italy N = 325, 311(F), 2 (transgender women), 12 (other) Physical, psychological, sexual, and any IPV CTS2S Attachment avoidance was positively related to psychological, physical, and any IPV, but not to sexual IPV. The association between Attachment avoidance, and psychological and any IPV was partially mediated by internalized homonegativity.…”

“…First, differences in the operationalization of violence and in the used instruments were found. Thirty-nine studies assessed IPV perpetration with some version of the conflict tactics scale (CTS; Ayhan Balik & Bilgin, 2021 ; Bartholomew et al, 2008a , b ; Causby et al, 1995 ; Balsam & Szymanski, 2005 ; Chong et al, 2013 ; Craft & Serovich, 2005 ; Craft et al, 2008 ; Edwards & Sylaska, 2013 ; Edwards et al, 2021 ; Leone et al, 2022 ; Lewis et al, 2017 ; Li et al, 2019 , 2022 ; Li & Zheng, 2021 ; Gabbay & Lafontaine, 2017a ; Gabbay & Lafontaine, 2017b ; Jones & Raghavan, 2012 ; Kelley et al, 2014 ; Landolt & Dutton, 1997 ; Lewis et al, 2018 ; Mason et al, 2016 ; McKenry et al, 2006 ; Milletich et al, 2014 ; Oringher & Samuelson, 2011 ; Pepper & Sand, 2015 ; Pistella et al, 2022 ; Stephenson et al, 2011b ; Stults et al, 2021b ; Swan et al, 2021 ; Swann et al, 2021 ; Taylor & Neppl, 2020 ; Tognasso et al, 2022 ; Whitton et al, 2021 ; Wu et al, 2015 ; Stults et al, 2015b ; Stults et al, 2016 ; Waterman et al, 1989 ; Whitton et al, 2019 ; Zavala, 2017 ). Other used assessment tools were the Intimate Partner Violence Among Gay and Bisexual Men (IPV-GBM) Scale (10 studies; Davis et al, 2016 ; Jones & Raghavan, 2012 ; Sharma et al, 2021 ; Stephenson & Finneran, 2016 ; Stephenson & Finneran, 2017 ; Suarez et al, 2018 ; Wei et al, 2020a , b , 2021 ; Zhu et al, 2021 ); the Psychological Maltreatmen...…”

“…Only one study used probabilistic methods of sampling (Bogart et al, 2005 ). Most (39 studies) included self-identified LGB+ people (Ayhan Balik & Bilgin, 2021 ; Bacchus et al, 2017 ; Bartholomew et al, 2008a , b ; Bartholomew et al, 2008a , b ; Bogart et al, 2005 ; Chong et al, 2013 ; Derlega et al, 2011 ; Edwards et al, 2021 ; Finneran & Stephenson, 2014 ; Finneran et al, 2012 ; Fontanesi et al, 2020 ; Fortunata & Kohn, 2003 ; Gabbay & Lafontaine, 2017a ; Gabbay & Lafontaine, b ; Jacobson et al, 2015 ; Kelly et al, 2011 ; Lewis et al, 2017 ; Lewis et al, 2018 ; Longares et al, 2018a ; Longares et al, b ; Mason et al, 2016 ; Oringher & Samuelson, 2011 ; Pistella et al, 2022 ; Poorman & Seelau, 2001 ; Reuter et al, 2015 ; Schilit et al, 1990 ; Sharma et al, 2021 ; Stephenson & Finneran, 2016 ; Stephenson & Finneran, 2017 ; Stephenson et al, 2011a ; Stephenson et al, 2013 ; Swan et al, 2021 ; Taylor & Neppl, 2020 ; Telesco, 2003 ; Tognasso et al, 2022 ; Toro-Alfonso & Rodríguez-Madera, 2004 ; Turell et al, 2018 ; Ummak et al, 2021 ; Zavala, 2017 ). Regardless of their self-identified sexual orientation, 17 studies recruited participants on the basis of their involvement in a same-sex relationship (Balsam & Szymanski, 2005 ; Craft & Serovich, 2005 ; Craft et al, 2008 ; Edwards & Sylaska, 2013 ; Jones & Raghavan, 2012 ; Kahle et al, 2020 ; Kelley et al, 2014 ; Leone et al, 2022 ; Li et al,…”

“…In addition, four studies found a significant association between attachment anxiety and IPV perpetration (Bartholomew et al, 2008a , b ; Derlega et al, 2011 ; Gabbay & Lafontaine, 2017a ; Tognasso et al, 2022 ). The association between attachment anxiety and sexual IPV perpetration was fully mediated by dyadic trust and sexual intimacy in a serial mediation model in the study by Gabbay and Lafontaine ( 2017a ).…”

“…Four studies highlighted a significant association between attachment avoidance and IPV perpetration (Bartholomew et al, 2008a , b ; Gabbay & Lafontaine, 2017a , b ; Tognasso et al, 2022 ). However, in the study by Bartholomew et al, ( 2008a , b ), only attachment avoidance assessed through interview was associated to physical and psychological IPV perpetration (even after controlling for IPV victimization), while self-reported avoidance was not.…”