A Rutgers study found an increase in intimate partner violence (IPV) frequency among LGBTQ individuals after the COVID-19 pandemic began. The research highlights the need for tailored IPV interventions and resources for the LGBTQ community, especially during times of national crisis, as their experiences differ from heterosexual couples.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people who experienced intimate partner violence in their current relationship before COVID-19 had an increase in the frequency of victimization after the pandemic began, according to a Rutgers study.
While national emergencies, crises, and pandemics increase the frequency of health risks and intimate partner violence few studies have considered the nuances of social and psychological factors, such as socioeconomic characteristics and mental health, in explaining the increase in intimate partner violence during times of crisis.
Unique Challenges for LGBTQ Couples
“To date, most programs on intimate partner violence focus on opposite sex and heterosexual couples,” said Perry N. Halkitis, dean of the Rutgers School of Public Health and senior study author. “However, same-sex couples are different in terms of partner dynamics, and thus interventions need to address these differences.”
The study, published online ahead of print in the Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services in April 2023, found that nearly one in five LGBTQ people reported intimate partner violence in their current romantic or sexual relationship, which increased following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study also found those in the southern United States were more likely to report an increase in intimate partner violence frequency and that intimate partner violence was associated with greater severity of depressive symptoms.
Geographic and Socioeconomic Insights
The Rutgers researchers conducted to the best of their knowledge the first analysis that reported the frequency of intimate partner violence victimization since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in a national sample of LGBTQ adults and assessed associations between sociodemographic characteristics such as region, education, age, race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual identity, and mental health states.
These findings also support calls for increased intimate partner violence-related resources available for and tailored to the needs of LGBTQ people, particularly during times of national crisis.
“Intimate partner violence interventions need to address that LGBTQ people are not monolithic in terms of many factors, including environments in which they live. Now more than ever given the attacks on LGBTQ people by politicians, the work we are doing at our research center CHIBPS is as important as ever,” Halkitis said.
Reference: “Sociodemographic characteristics, depressive symptoms, and increased frequency of intimate partner violence among LGBTQ people in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic: A brief report” by Christopher B. Stults, Kristen D. Krause, Richard J. Martino, Marybec Griffin, Caleb E. LoSchiavo, Savannah G. Lynn, Stephan A. Brandt, David Tan, Nicolas Horne, Gabin Lee, Jessie Wong and Perry N. Halkitis, 26 August 2022, Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services.
DOI: 10.1080/10538720.2022.2116140
Other study authors include Christopher B. Stults, Kristen D. Krause, Richard J. Martino, Marybec Griffin, Caleb E. LoSchiavo, Savannah G. Lynn, Stephan A. Brandt, David Tana, Nicolas Hornea, Gabin Lee and Jessie Wong.
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5 Comments
“Now more than ever given the attacks on LGBTQ people by politicians…”
Always have to blame others, and attack political opponents. It’s been shown in several studies lesbian couples have highr rates of intimate violence than other couples. What’s the breakdown here. Why do you always have to point fingers than accept responsibility? It’s not like deplorable, clinging, right wing terrorists haven’t been attacked by numerous De.ocrat politicians lately.
Good. Let ’em work out their problems. Leave the rest of us out of it.
I’m sorry, but a woman who thinks they are a man (or vise-versa) has a certain biological error in their system.
You can bash this statement, but it is true. Psychological computation is faulty. EVERY homosexual(s) that I know personally (the whole spectrum). Have been molested, abused, etc. usually by the same sex, in that which “they” gravitate towards. It’s a blame game because of they sub-consciously hate themselves, that projects their anger towards others because they can’t discern for themselves the correct outlet. They are trying to change the self image that they correlate (abuse, molestation) which contributed to the emotional distress. So many insecurities! They don’t even know what they want.
Without comparing the statistics for LBG… couples and non-LGB… couples, it’s impossible to derive a rational conclusion from the paucity of “facts” contained in this article. All the article really tells us is that LGB… couples who used to beat each other up before COVID,. beat each other up more during COVID. Interesting, but hardly shocking. Now — how does that compare with LGB… couples who didn’t beat each other up before COVID, or non-LGB… couples who did or didn’t beat each other up before COVID?
Obey the bible and hang the perverts. God will sort them out later.