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More Than 40% of LGBTQ+ Students Report Intimate Partner Violence

More than 40% of LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trangender, queer, questioning and other nonheterosexual identities) college students report that they have experienced intimate partner violence in their current relationships, a rate that generally aligns with the rate of violence among heterosexual couples, according to new research from the Carsey Institute at the University of New Hampshire.

Katie Edwards, PhD, an assistant professor of psychology and women’s studies and faculty fellow at the Carsey Institute, and Kateryna Sylaska, a doctoral student in social psychology at University of New Hampshire, authored the Carsey Institute brief “Intimate Partner Violence Among LGBTQ+ College Students.”

“These findings have important implications for prevention and intervention efforts. Although components of intimate partner violence prevention programming developed for heterosexual students, such as assertiveness skills training, are relevant for LGBTQ+ students, programming for LGBTQ+ college students should integrate techniques to reduce internalized feelings of negativity toward homosexuality,” the authors say.

“Such an approach, which might include developing positive self-regard, increasing social support networks, and exposure to positive LGBTQ+ messages and role models, could help reduce violence perpetration in a relationship,” they say.

The key findings are as follows:

• Four in 10 LGBTQ+ college students in the sample reported intimate partner violence victimization or perpetration within a current relationship.

• More than one-third of the victims told no one about the abuse, a rate that is higher tha what is generally found among heterosexual college students.

• The most common reason for not revealing the abuse was the perceptoin that it was “no big deal” or that it was normal, or they justified the abuse because the partner was drunk or annoyed.

• Victims most frequently turned to friends when revealing the abuse, followed by family members. Only 9% turned to formal supports such as counselors.

• The majority said that friends were both the most helpful and least helpful as sources of support.

“Widespread efforts are needed to reduce homophobia and heterosexism broadly, as are educational efforts, such as social media and other campaigns, to raise awareness about intimate partner violence among LGBTQ+ college students,” the authors say.

This research is based on a survey of 391 college students in same-sex romantic relationships from across the United States.

The complete Carsey Institute report about this research is available at http://carseyinstitute.unh.edu/publication/1066.

— Source: University of New Hampshire