Sociodemographic characteristics of gay and lesbian victims of intimate partner psychological abuse in Spain and Latin America / Características sociodemográficas de gais y lesbianas víctimas de abuso psicológico en pareja en España e Hispanoamérica

Abstract

Psychological abuse in same-sex couples has hardly been studied in Spain and Latin America, despite its importance in society and public health. The objective of this study is to examine the prevalence of psychological abuse in same-sex couples in Spain and Latin America and analyse the associated sociodemographic characteristics. An online survey was conducted with 663 gay and lesbian respondents from Spain and Latin America. Of the total sample, 10.6% reported that they perceived themselves as victims of psychological abuse from their partner (9.6% in gay men and 10.7% in lesbians). In gay men, differences were found between victims and non-victims on the sociodemographic variables of age, professional status, and daily alcohol consumption. In lesbians, significant differences were found between victims and nonvictims in the country and professional status variables. When comparing gay and lesbian victims, significant differences were found in professional status and alcohol consumption. This study contributes to better understanding of this phenomenon, and it reveals the need for further research.

Victimization and Perception of Abuse in Adolescent and Young Homosexual and Heterosexual Couples in Spain

“…This is not observed in heterosexuals, whose members are mostly victims of violence due to detachment, coercion, and humiliation, in coherence with the findings of other studies where psychological violence prevails [10,[37][38][39]42]. Despite this controversy, the analyses show the different types of violent victimization within couple relationships, highlighting the results among homosexuals [5,31,32,34]. In young heterosexual relationships, we confirm the high prevalence of psychological violence performed and suffered both by males and females, with detachment, coercion, and humiliation being common [10,38].…”

“…Despite this controversy, the analyses show the different types of violent victimization within couple relationships, highlighting the results among homosexuals [ 5 , 31 , 32 , 34 ]. In young heterosexual relationships, we confirm the high prevalence of psychological violence performed and suffered both by males and females, with detachment, coercion, and humiliation being common [ 10 , 38 ].…”

“…Physical and sexual violence occurs among 44% of lesbians and 26% of gays [33]. Psychological victimization is the most frequent, followed by physical and sexual typologies [5,34]. In this regard, in Spain, Ortega [28], in his study on aggression in homosexual couples in a sample of young people aged 18 to 29, reports a prevalence of 13.09% for psychological violence, 4.57% for sexual violence, and 3.53% for physical violence, finding the highest rates of violent victimization in these minority groups for this age range.…”

Intimate Partner Violence Among Sexual Minority Women: A Scoping Review

“…Hirschel and McCormack (2021) analyzed more than 2.5 million cases of IPV reported to law enforcement in the United States and found that female-female couples involved in these incidents were significantly younger than male-male and male-female couples. Steele et al (2020) and others (Barrientos et al, 2018;Descamps et al, 2000) found that SMW who report IPV tend to have lower income and educational levels. However, Coston (2017) found an association between experiencing violence and greater social power (an aggregate measure of age, race/ethnicity, education, income, immigration status, and indigeneity) among bisexual women.…”

El derecho de acceso a los servicios de apoyo en la violencia en parejas del mismo sexo en España: Posibilidades y disputas

“…Apelar al género, implica atender a la formación de identidades femeninas y masculinas dentro de las relaciones de desigualdad, de modo que, desde este planteamiento referido al 'género' y no al sexo, la violencia en parejas del mismo sexo no debería quedar excluida del ámbito de protección de la citada LOVG (Coll-Planas et al, 2008). Planteamiento que, además, está íntimamente conectado con el actual marco referencial -la sociedad heterosexista -, lo que implica que los preceptos de género en las relaciones afectivo-sexuales (mitos del amor romántico, el poder, el control o la dominación, entre otros), susceptibles de desembocar en situaciones de maltrato, se reproducen y desarrollan tanto en parejas heterosexuales como en parejas del mismo sexo (Alonso Vidal, 2022; Barrientos et al, 2018;Calton et al, 2016;Coll-Planas et al, 2008;Eaton, 1994;Langenderfer-Madruger et al, 2016;Longares et al, 2019;Vela, 2022).…”