Sexual stigma, masculinity, and physical intimate partner violence perpetration among sexual minority men.

Abstract

Objective: The present study examined whether sexual minority men's experiences of sexual stigma and conformity to masculine norms predicted their perpetration of physical intimate partner violence (IPV) and whether masculinity norms and sexual orientation moderated those relationships. Method: Two hundred seventy-five gay and bisexual+ (bi+) men completed online questionnaires assessing their physical IPV perpetration in their most significant recent intimate relationship, along with measures of sexual stigma and conformity to the masculine norms of winning and power over women. Results: Findings indicated that enacted stigma (i.e., heterosexist discrimination) was significantly related to physical IPV perpetration, such that higher levels of enacted stigma were associated with higher levels of physical IPV perpetration. Results also indicated that the masculine norm of winning moderated the relation between enacted stigma and IPV perpetration and between felt stigma (i.e., expectations of discrimination) and IPV perpetration. Simple slopes analyses revealed that at low levels of winning, enacted, and felt stigma were not significant predictors of perpetration, but at high levels of winning, they were significant predictors. Sexual orientation also moderated the relationship between power over women and perpetration such that power over women was a significant predictor among bi+ men but not gay men. Conclusions: The results point to the role that sexual stigma and masculinity may play in understanding sexual minority men's physical IPV perpetration and important differences between gay and bi+ men. Preventive interventions for IPV among sexual minority men should consider the impact of heterosexist experiences and felt stigma as well as constructions of masculinity.

The Significance of the Dark Personality in Intimate Partner Violence Perpetrated by Sexual Minority Men Against Same-Sex Partners

“…The association between IPV, dark personality traits, conformity to masculine norms and the role of sexual stigma could be explored. This represents a potential line of future research building on work by Harris and Mahalik (2023) into sexual stigma, masculinity and physical IPV among sexual minority men.…”

“…Prevalence studies for this collective sexual minority group have estimated that between 34% and 45% of men in a same-sex relationship have been subjected to IPV (Maxwell et al, 2020). Other research has indicated that IPV victimisation rates may be as high as 26% for gay males as a sexual minority group and 27.3% for bisexual males (Harris & Mahalik, 2023). Furthermore, in comparison to heterosexual males, "sexual minority men were twice as likely to be victims of IPV and 1.7 times as likely to perpetrate IPV" (Harris & Mahalik, 2023, p. 297).…”

“…Given not only these concerning figures, but the wide recognition that experiencing IPV is associated with negative short-and long-term physical, psychological and interpersonal suffering, the present study aimed to contribute to knowledge and understanding of perpetration (Harris & Mahalik, 2023;Krahé, 2021;Maxwell, 2023, Maxwell et al, 2022. More specifically, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between Dark Triad traits personality (Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy) and IPV perpetration among bisexual and gay men in same-sex relationships.…”

Dominant masculinity and marginalized sexuality: Extending minority stress theory for gay and bisexual+ men.

“…We excluded participants who indicated that they are heterosexual ( n = 12), questioning ( n = 1), women ( n = 6), or did not answer the gender identity question on the survey ( n = 1). As this study’s data were collected as part of another study examining experiences of sexual minority men in relationships (Harris & Mahalik, 2023), participants who reported that they were not in a relationship in the last year ( n = 5) were also excluded. We also used the Mahalanobis procedure to identify any outliers ( n = 1).…”