Violence in lesbian and gay relationships: Theory, prevalence, and correlational factors

doi:10.1016/S0272-7358(98)00054-3

Clinical Psychology Review

Volume 19, Issue 5, August 1999, Pages 487-512

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0272-7358(98)00054-3 Get rights and content

Abstract

This article reviews and critiques the existing empirical literature examining interpersonal violence in lesbian and gay relationships. Studies assessing psychological, physical, and nonconsenting sexual forms of violence in intimate, same-sex relationships are reviewed, and their findings are integrated with what is known about partner abuse in heterosexual relationships. Nineteen studies are described and categorized according to the specific questions being addressed. This body of literature suggests that prevalence rates of same-sex partner abuse are high and its correlates show many similarities to those identified in incidents of heterosexual partner abuse. This article addresses the need for substantially increased efforts in this field of study in terms of well-controlled and theory-driven research design. In terms of other implications of this body of literature, the high prevalence rate of partner abuse among lesbian and gay populations needs to be recognized by providers of both physical and mental health services who potentially treat victims, so that they can more accurately identify appropriate interventions. More research is warranted, not only in the general area of lesbian and gay partner abuse, but in examining various treatment modalities and their effectiveness in helping perpetrators to end the cycle of violence.

Section snippets

Defining Abuse

A notable problem inherent in studies of abuse is the lack of a clear definition concerning what actually constitutes abuse. For example, in a 1994 review of the domestic violence literature, Carden used the terms violence, battering, abuse, and assault interchangeably to refer to any physical, sexual, or psychological behavior intended to cause pain or injury to another. While this provides a comprehensive and general definition of abuse, researchers need to distinguish between physical,

Prevalence of Lesbian and Gay Male Partner Abuse

Prevalence data in these investigations were weighed along several criteria to determine whether the estimates of physical violence may have been biased, and/or to explain differences in percentages reported by the numerous investigators. Specifically, the criteria were as follows: whether researchers attempted to control for physical force used only for self-defense; the time span for which respondents were asked to indicate the presence of physical force (e.g., past year, current

Discussion

A caveat must be issued at this point regarding the findings and conclusions discussed below. As noted throughout this article, methodological problems have been pervasive in studies of domestic violence as well as in studying gay and lesbian issues in general. While findings, implications, and conclusions in these areas are based on current knowledge, sampling, definitional, and reporting limitations exist. Therefore, what is known about intimate violence in relation to gays and lesbians can

Directions for future research

Enhanced methods are clearly warranted for overcoming the problems inherent in data gathering in this body of literature. Obtaining representative samples of gays and lesbians in general, as well as those involved in heterosexual violence, might best be attempted through national census data gathering procedures rather than convenience sampling methods. Offering grant-funded monetary incentives for returning surveys might maximize return rates. If returns were not adequately representative of

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Effectively addressing adolescent dating violence rests on the quality of its measurement, as that has substantial implications for our understanding of prevalence, correlates, outcomes. Although dating violence is highly prevalent among sexual minority youth, the state of measurement in this population has scarcely been explored. This scoping review presents information on the measurement of adolescent dating violence in exiting studies conducted with sexual minority youth. Three databases were searched, and the ancestry approach was used to identify relevant literature published in the United States between 1992 and 2022 that included sexual minority adolescents aged 19 years or younger.
Twenty-one articles were identified. Five enrolled entirely sexual minority samples. Sexual minority distribution ranged from 2.1 % to 100 %. All studies operationalized sexual identity as an orientation (not sexual behavior, attraction). Nineteen studies focused on measuring dating violence behavior. Twelve reported on female and male victimization, 4 on female and male perpetration and victimization, 2 on female perpetration and victimization, and 2 on female victimization-only. Most commonly used items were from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (11 studies) and the Conflict in Adolescent Dating Relationships Inventory (3 studies). Two studies assessed knowledge of and attitudes toward dating violence. Domains explored included rape myth acceptance, victim empathy, bystander opportunity, and dating abuse knowledge. Only two scales had undergone previous systematic psychometric evaluation. There was no evidence of cross-cultural validation in sexual minority populations. Rigorous research on adolescent dating violence measurement among sexual minority youth is greatly needed and should be given priority among researchers.
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View full text

Violence in lesbian and gay relationships: Theory, prevalence, and correlational factors

Abstract

Section snippets

Defining Abuse

Prevalence of Lesbian and Gay Male Partner Abuse

Discussion

Directions for future research

Violence and the family (Report of the APA Presidential Task Force on Violence in the Family)

AggressionA social learning analysis

DepressionClinical, experimental, and theoretical aspects

Sex role conflict in alcoholic women

Journal of Abnormal Psychology

Violent intimacyFamily as a model for love relationships

Family Relations

Husbands and wives

Violence in the family as a disorder of the attachment and caregiving systems

American Journal of Psychoanalysis

National lesbian health care surveyImplications for mental health care

Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology

Frequency of physical aggression in heterosexual and female homosexual dyads

Psychological Reports

Interspousal violence

Canadian Journal of Psychiatry

When battered women kill

Affirmative psychotherapy for lesbian women

The Counseling Psychologist

Relationship characteristics of American gay and lesbian couplesFindings from a national survey

Journal of Gay and Lesbian Social Services

Wife abuse and the wife abuserReview and recommendations

The Counseling Psychologist

Exposure to violence in the families of origin among wife-abusers and maritally non-violent men

Violence and Victims

Violence in lesbian couplesA between groups comparison. (Doctoral dissertation, California School of Professional Psychology, 1990)

Dissertation Abstracts International

The SCL-90-RAdministration, Scoring, and Procedures Manual I

Alcohol abuse among lesbiansA descriptive study

Journal of Homosexuality

Understanding the helpseeking behavior of battered womenA comparison of traditional service agencies and women’s groups

International Journal of Women’s Studies

Profiling of wife assaultersPreliminary evidence for a trimodal analysis

Violence and Victims

The etiology and treatment of domestic violence between adult partners

Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice

The psychobiology of female aggression

Criminal Justice and Behavior

Men who batterSome pertinent characteristics

Journal of Nervous and Mental Disorders

Blaming by namingBattered women and the epidemic of codependence

Social Work

Court-mandated counseling for men who batterA three-day workshop for mental health professionals: Participant’s manual

Method of conflict resolution and characteristics of abuse and victimization in heterosexual, lesbian, and gay male couples. (Doctoral dissertation, University of Georgia, 1988)

Dissertation Abstracts International

Battered wives

Medical Science and the Law

Violence in the American family

Journal of Social Issues

Intimate violence

The definition and scope of sexual orientation

Lesbian batteringAn examination

The Texas Social Behavior Inventory (TSBI)An objective measure of self-esteem or social competence

Journal Supplement Abstract Service Catalog of Selected Documents in Psychology

A strategy for the measurement of homophobia

Journal of Homosexuality

Personality Research Form manual

The women’s mental health research agendaviolence against women

American Psychologist