A Rutgers study found that LGBTQ individuals who experienced intimate partner violence (IPV) in their current relationship before the COVID-19 pandemic saw an increase in IPV frequency after the pandemic began. The study, published in the Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services, revealed that nearly one in five LGBTQ people reported IPV in their current relationship, which increased following the pandemic’s onset. Researchers found that IPV was more prevalent in the southern United States and associated with greater depressive symptom severity. The findings highlight the need for tailored IPV interventions and resources for LGBTQ individuals, particularly during times of national crisis, as their experiences and partner dynamics differ from those of opposite-sex and heterosexual couples.
A Rutgers study found an increase in intimate partner violence (IPV) frequency among LGBTQ individuals after the COVID-19First identified in 2019 in Wuhan, China, COVID-19, or Coronavirus disease 2019, (which was originally called "2019 novel coronavirus" or 2019-nCoV) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It has spread globally, resulting in the 2019–22 coronavirus pandemic.” data-gt-translate-attributes=”[{“attribute”:”data-cmtooltip”, “format”:”html”}]”>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.
“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.
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.
Source: SciTechDaily
