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The Perpetration of Intimate Partner Violence among LGBTQ College Youth: The Role of Minority Stress

  • Empirical Research
  • Published:
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Abstract

Preliminary research suggests that partner violence is a problem among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) college youth. However, there is no study to date with college youth on the factors associated with perpetration of same-sex partner violence, which is needed to inform prevention efforts specific to this population. Thus, the purpose of the current study was to assess how facets of minority stress (i.e., sexual-orientation-related victimization, sexual minority stigma, internalized homonegativity, sexual identity concealment) relate to physical, sexual, and psychological partner violence perpetration among LGBTQ college youth (N = 391; 49 % identified as men; 72 % Caucasian; M age: 20.77 years). At the bivariate level, physical perpetration was related to identity concealment and internalized homonegativity; sexual perpetration was related to internalized homonegativity; and psychological perpetration was related to sexual-orientation-related victimization. However, at the multivariate level (after controlling for concurrent victimization), psychological perpetration was unrelated to minority stress variables, whereas physical and sexual perpetration were both related to internalized homonegativity; physical perpetration was also related to identity concealment. These results underscore the utility of understanding partner violence among LGBTQ youth through a minority stress framework. Moreover, the current study highlights the need for a better understanding of factors that mediate and moderate the relationship between minority stress and partner violence perpetration among LGBTQ youth in order to inform prevention and intervention efforts.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank all of the individuals who participated in this study. We would also like to thank Annie Crossman, Ryan Hebert, Arianna Schaaff, Kathryn Boyle-Steed, and Rebecca Butz for their assistance with this study.

Author contribution

KE conceived of the study, participated in its design, coordination, and interpretation, conducted analyses, and drafted the manuscript; KS participated in the design, coordination, and interpretation of the study, conducted analyses, and helped to draft the manuscript. Both authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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  1. Department of Psychology, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, 03824, USA

    Katie M. Edwards & Kateryna M. Sylaska

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  1. Katie M. Edwards
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  2. Kateryna M. Sylaska
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Correspondence to Katie M. Edwards.

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Edwards, K.M., Sylaska, K.M. The Perpetration of Intimate Partner Violence among LGBTQ College Youth: The Role of Minority Stress. J Youth Adolescence 42, 1721–1731 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-012-9880-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-012-9880-6

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