The Help-Seeking Process in Same-Sex Intimate Partner Violence: a Systematic Review

Abstract

Introduction Same-Sex Intimate Partner Violence (SSIPV) is a complex issue that can be severely damaging. When involved in SSIPV, victims and perpetrators sometimes choose to seek help. The help-seeking process, however, can be difficult. Experiences of help-seeking seem to vary and may be positive or negative depending on several factors, some of which appear to be specific to lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) people involved in a same-sex relationship. Methods A systematic review of the literature has been conducted across four databases following the PRISMA statement guidelines. Out of 410 screened abstracts, 78 articles were selected for full-text review. Following the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 21 studies were included in the current review. Thematic analysis was conducted on these studies and results were discussed by three reviewers. Results Help-seekers tended to use informal sources of help, perceived to be ambivalently helpful. Formal sources tended to be utilized sparingly, except for counselors. Many formal sources were perceived to be unhelpful, and most of the studies identified several barriers to services that prevented effective help. Formal and helpful sources were perceived as knowledgeable and sensitive about LGB themes. Conclusions While existing research is limited, formal services that can provide effective care for SSIPV appear scarce. Barriers to services seem widespread, limiting accessibility. Policy Implications Existing services would benefit from increasing their knowledge and sensitivity on SSIPV-specific themes. The development of policies, programs, and interventions that aim to provide effective help is needed, as well as more research.

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

“…Training of stakeholders working with couple violence or sexual minority people is needed to increase professional skills in dealing with IPV among sexual minority people and increase access to services, which is still limited by lack of awareness regarding this phenomenon and perceived stigma (Santoniccolo et al, 2021 ). The development of services and interventions based on empirical evidence, addressed to sexual minority perpetrators of IPV and able to take care of these complexities while adopting non-stigmatizing attitudes, is needed as well.…”

“…According to several authors (Calton et al, 2016;Cannon & Buttell, 2015;Chong et al, 2013;Ollen et al, 2017;Rollè et al, 2021), the heteronormative and homonegative climate that still permeates our societies limits the opportunity of understanding, recognizing, and managing this phenomenon. The lack of services tailored to this population and the ineffectiveness of formal sources of support have been extensively documented (Freeland et al, 2018;Lorenzetti et al, 2017;Rollè et al, 2021;Santoniccolo et al, 2021). This negatively influences the possibilities of sexual minority people who are victims or perpetrators of IPV to find help and recover from this experience.…”

Intimate Partner Violence and Openness to Online Counseling Among College Students

“…Due to various barriers, such as access to F2F services that do not support LGBT people’s identities, or that LGBT people find unhelpful (McClennen et al, 2002 ; Santoniccolo et al, 2021 ), OC may be a new platform that may LGBT people may be more open to, because it does not yet have a reputation for being used in a stigmatizing way towards this community. LGBT individuals may be more open to this format as an option outside of the traditional F2F agencies and counseling that have historically not provided culturally competent services (APA & Div 44 , 2000 ).…”

“…Because LGBTQ + young individuals are ubiquitous internet users, technology-enhanced communication aids—such as texts, phone calls, video chats, social media—are a way to maintain the sense of community and emotional support (Drabble & Eliason, 2021 ; Grant et al, 2021 ). Moreover, due to various barriers, such as isolation from social support networks or access to F2F services that are heteronormative or do not support LGBT people’s identities (Santoniccolo et al, 2021 ), samples of LGBT survivors have shown that fewer than half of them sought help from or disclosed their IPV experience to F2F counseling services (Kurdyla et al, 2021 ; Scheer & Baams, 2021 ). Those who did utilize such F2F services were likely to rate them as ambivalently helpful or unhelpful (McClennen et al, 2002 ; Santoniccolo et al, 2021 ), again demonstrating the potential utility of a new format of service provision for LGBTQ + people.…”

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

“…The results have theoretical implications and can provide important information to prevention programs and services involved in the treatment of IPV perpetrators, which to date are scarce and not equipped to handle the complexities and specificities of this phenomenon among lesbian women ( Rollè et al, 2021 ; Santoniccolo et al, 2021 ).…”