Sexual Identity and Gender Differences in Substance Use and Violence: An Exploratory Study

Urgency and relevance of feminist social work to curb domestic violence amid COVID-19

As the world is witnessing unprecedented circumstances and humans are making every possible effort to save their lives and livelihoods from the Coronavirus, unfortunately, there is a segment of the populace that is even more vulnerable. Women are compelled to stay indoors during quarantine, which makes them more exposed to domestic violence from their intimate partners. In these times of emergency, feminist social work is needed more than ever. Therefore, this article highlights the issue of domestic violence women are facing during pandemics around the globe and signifies the relevance of feminist social workers in domestic violence amid COVID-19.

Experiences of Minority Stress and Intimate Partner Violence Among Homosexual Women in Turkey

Intimate partner violence (IPV) has been recognized as an important public health problem over the past two decades, and increased attention to violence in intimate relationships has been given to heterosexual couples. Although the vast majority of literature has determined the rate of IPV among lesbian, gay, bisexual couples, and relationship quality, few studies investigated how stress specific to living as a lesbian or bisexual woman might correlate with IPV in these relationships. For this reason, the purpose of this descriptive study was to determine the experiences of minority stress and IPV among homosexual women (n = 149) in Turkey. Data were collected using convenience and snowball sampling. Participants completed an interviewer-administered survey. Results indicated that victimization and perpetration of all the forms of IPV occur but the most prevalent was perpetration (66.4%) and victimization (63.1%) of psychological violence. The mean score of participants' total level of outness was found 4.78 ± 2.15 (0-10). Most participants (74.5%) reported being often exposed to discrimination in the public area and reported moderate level of internalized homophobia (2.72 ± 0.87). Participants' level of outness associated with psychological (Victimization r = .319, p = .00; Perpetration r = .421, p = .00), physical (Victimization r = .184, p = .025; Perpetration r = .209, p = .010), and sexual (Victimization r = .263, p = .001; Perpetration r = .372, p = .00) violence perpetration and victimization. It is also founded that there was relation between internalized homophobia level and sexual violence perpetration (r = .164, p = .045)/victimization (r = .189, p = .021). These findings demonstrate a need for health care staff to be aware of the prevalence of IPV and minority stress that affected this population. Mental health of homosexual individuals is under the risk due to minority stress and IPV experiences. Furthermore, this finding illustrated that need for additional empirical research improved interpersonal relationship among these women. Also, policies need to be developed to reduce the minority stress experienced by these individuals and provide integration with the society.

Discrimination and Intimate Partner Violence Victimization and Perpetration Among a Convenience Sample of LGBT Individuals in Latin America

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals experience intimate partner violence (IPV) at high rates, even bidirectionally, yet no studies to date have investigated IPV among LGBT individuals in Latin America. Thus, this study explored discrimination and IPV victimization and perpetration among LGBT individuals in Latin America. Participants (N = 99) were recruited for this online, cross-sectional survey via convenience sampling and completed measures of LGBT discrimination and lifetime IPV victimization and perpetration. Results indicated that 60.61% of the sample reported at least one form of IPV victimization at some point in their life, and 56.57% reported at least one form of perpetration. Psychological aggression was the most common type of IPV victimization and perpetration. Physical assault victimization was positively correlated with work/school heterosexism. Perpetration and victimization of physical assault, psychological aggression, and sexual coercion were correlated with the "other" heterosexism subscale. Cluster analysis revealed a three-cluster solution: participants in Cluster 1 were high in IPV victimization and perpetration; Cluster 2 participants were low in IPV victimization and perpetration; and Cluster 3 participants were moderate on psychological aggression perpetration and victimization, but low on the other three forms of IPV. Cluster 1 participants had a higher score for the "other" heterosexism subscale than Cluster 2. This study highlights the need to address certain aspects of IPV, such as bidirectionality, in clinical encounters such as safety planning. Future research should examine the role of Latinx identity in LGBT individuals' experiences of discrimination and IPV.

Discrimination and Intimate Partner Violence Victimization and Perpetration Among a Convenience Sample of LGBT Individuals in Latin America

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals experience intimate partner violence (IPV) at high rates, even bidirectionally, yet no studies to date have investigated IPV among LGBT individuals in Latin America. Thus, this study explored discrimination and IPV victimization and perpetration among LGBT individuals in Latin America. Participants ( N = 99) were recruited for this online, cross-sectional survey via convenience sampling and completed measures of LGBT discrimination and lifetime IPV victimization and perpetration. Results indicated that 60.61% of the sample reported at least one form of IPV victimization at some point in their life, and 56.57% reported at least one form of perpetration. Psychological aggression was the most common type of IPV victimization and perpetration. Physical assault victimization was positively correlated with work/school heterosexism. Perpetration and victimization of physical assault, psychological aggression, and sexual coercion were correlated with the “other” heterosexism subscale. Cluster analysis revealed a three-cluster solution: participants in Cluster 1 were high in IPV victimization and perpetration; Cluster 2 participants were low in IPV victimization and perpetration; and Cluster 3 participants were moderate on psychological aggression perpetration and victimization, but low on the other three forms of IPV. Cluster 1 participants had a higher score for the “other” heterosexism subscale than Cluster 2. This study highlights the need to address certain aspects of IPV, such as bidirectionality, in clinical encounters such as safety planning. Future research should examine the role of Latinx identity in LGBT individuals’ experiences of discrimination and IPV.

When Intimate Partner Violence Meets Same Sex Couples: A Review of Same Sex Intimate Partner Violence

Over the past few decades, the causes of and intervention for intimate partner violence (IPV) have been approached and studied. This paper presents a narrative review on IPV occurring in same sex couples, that is, same sex IPV (SSIPV). Despite the myth that IPV is exclusively an issue in heterosexual relationships, many studies have revealed the existence of IPV among lesbian and gay couples, and its incidence is comparable to (Turell, 2000) or higher than that among heterosexual couples (Messinger, 2011; Kelley et al., 2012). While similarities between heterosexual and lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) IPV were found, unique features and dynamics were present in LGB IPV. Such features are mainly related to identification and treatment of SSIPV in the community and to the need of taking into consideration the role of sexual minority stressors. Our findings show there is a lack of studies that address LGB individuals involved in IPV; this is mostly due to the silence that has historically existed around violence in the LGB community, a silence built on fears and myths that have obstructed a public discussion on the phenomenon. We identified the main themes discussed in the published studies that we have reviewed here. The reviews lead us to the conclusion that it is essential to create a place where this subject can be freely discussed and approached, both by LGB and heterosexual people.

Partner abuse and its association with emotional distress: A study exploring LGBTI relationships

This study examines partner abuse in LBGTI relationships, with focus on the associations with emotional distress and protective factors. Two hundred and eighty-seven participants took part. Partner abuse (victimisation) comprised three factors; conflict orientated aggression; hostile ignorance and control of communication; and social control and possessiveness (including threats to possessions). Perpetration factors were similar. Significant differences across sexuality or gender were limited to the perpetration of abuse relating to suspicion and possessiveness, where men were more likely to report this than the other gender groups, and women were less likely to report this. Of those reporting abuse in their current relationship, over half reported experiencing abuse in a primary relationship previously, with 60% reporting exposure to abuse as a child. Partner abuse in their current relationship predicted current levels of increased emotional distress, with reduced satisfaction with the current relationship having an indirect impact on this association. Resilience traits were not a predictor or mediator. The results demonstrate the similarity in abuse across LGBTI communities despite the diversity of genders, sexualities and experiences within these groups. The results are discussed with regard to directions for future research and implications for practice.

Women Who Use Drugs and Have Sex with Women in a Canadian Setting: Barriers to Treatment Enrollment and Exposure to Violence and Homelessness

Individuals who use illicit drugs and belong to a sexual minority group often contend with elevated risks for adverse health outcomes. However, little is known about women who use drugs and have sex with women. We therefore sought to identify sociodemographic, substance use patterns, and exposures to social-structural factors associated with reporting sexual activity among women participating in three open prospective cohort studies of individuals who use illicit drugs in Vancouver, Canada. Generalized estimating equations were used to identify substance use patterns, violence, and other social and structural drivers of health-related harm among women who reported having sex with women (WSW) between December 2005 and May 2012. In multivariate analyses, younger age (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 2.89; 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.81, 4.60), violence (AOR 1.78; 95 % CI 1.22, 2.59), and homelessness (AOR 1.42; 95 % CI 1.00, 2.02) were associated with WSW. WSW were also less likely to report enrollment in addiction treatment (AOR 0.68; 95 % CI 0.46, 0.99). In a second model, sexual violence (AOR 3.47; 95 % CI 2.08, 5.78) in the previous 6 months was also found to be positively associated with WSW. These findings indicate a critical need for more thorough understandings of the intersections between sexual relationships, exposure to violence, and enrollment in addiction treatment among women who use illicit drugs, as well as the development of programs to address the unique needs of this population.

Childhood sexual abuse, alcohol use, and PTSD symptoms as predictors of adult sexual assault among lesbians and gay men

Prior research has indicated that childhood sexual abuse (CSA), alcohol use, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms are important risk factors for adult sexual assault (ASA). A notable limitation of this prior work, however, is that it has almost exclusively focused on heterosexual women. The present study sought to remedy this by examining the extent to which CSA, alcohol use, and PTSD symptoms related to ASA among lesbians (n = 122) and gay men (n = 117). Using structural equation modeling, we found that alcohol use was the best predictor of ASA among lesbians whereas CSA was the best predictor of ASA among gay men. These results suggest that certain risk factors may be differentially related to ASA among groups with different sexual orientations. Such findings deepen our current understanding of ASA and offer important directions for reducing the risk of ASA for lesbian and gay individuals.

An exploration of sexual minority stress across the lines of gender and sexual identity

Despite growing evidence to suggest that gays, lesbians, and bisexuals experience a range of stressors and consequences related to their sexual minority status, no known studies to date have employed focus group discussion to explore and document their perceptions of sexual minority stress. In this exploratory study, we present focus group data on a range of sexual minority stressors as described by 43 gay men, lesbians, and bisexual men and women. We explore gender and sexual identity differences in the respondents' perceptions of heteronormativity, disclosure issues in different social settings, sources of support, and strategies for coping with stress. Respondents reported that women's same-sex relationships were eroticized and distorted to accommodate heterosexual male desire, while men were negatively depicted as sexually promiscuous and deviant. These differing stereotypes held important consequences for disclosure decisions and affected men's and women's social interactions with heterosexual men. Bisexual respondents reported unique strategies to cope with exclusion and isolation associated with misunderstandings about their sexual identities. Directions for future research on sexual minority stress are discussed.