Publication year
2017
Citation Title
Intimate partner violence among women veterans by sexual orientation.
Journal Name
Women & Health
Journal Volume
57
Issue Number
7
Page Numbers
775-791
DOI
10.1080/03630242.2016.1202884
Summary
Lesbian, bisexual, or questioning (LBQ)-identified women experience intimate partner violence (IPV) at similar or higher rates than heterosexual women. Female Veterans also have a high risk for IPV. Although LBQ women are disproportionately represented in the military relative to the general population, IPV experiences relative to sexual orientation have not been examined. This study examined lifetime and past-year IPV experiences and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms by sexual orientation. Results suggest that LBQ female Veterans were more likely to report IPV; however, sexual orientation was unrelated to IPV-related PTSD symptoms.
Key Findings
When controlling for age, LBQ female Veterans experienced a lifetime fear of partners, sexual IPV, physical IPV, and partner stalking at significantly higher rates than heterosexual female Veterans.
When controlling for age, LBQ female Veterans were more likely to have experienced past-year emotional mistreatment, sexual IPV, and physical IPV than heterosexual female Veterans.
LBQ female Veterans were over four times as likely than heterosexual female Veterans to experience past-year sexual IPV.
Sexual orientation was not associated with IPV-related PTSD symptoms, even after controlling for age, race, and number of types of IPV experienced.
Implications for Program Leaders
Disseminate information to female LBQ Service members and their intimate partners regarding available resources for IPV and IPV-related PTSD symptoms
Offer classes and support groups focused on increasing conflict-resolution skills to female LBQ couples who have a history of IPV in their relationship
Enhance current IPV prevention programs to include training materials and outreach strategies that are inclusive of and sensitive to LBQ female Service members
Implications for Policy Makers
Encourage the development and continuation of programs specifically focused on IPV prevention among sexual minority Service members and their intimate partners
Encourage the development of a collaboration between DoD programs and LGBT community organizations to develop resources specifically for LBQ female Service members and their intimate partners who experience IPV
Recommend professional education that includes specific information on IPV experienced by LBQ female Service members
Methods
Data were gathered from the Women Veterans and IPV-related Care Survey, a 2014 national study examining women Veteran's health needs.
Participants were recruited by a research firm (GfK) using KnowledgePanel, a probability-based survey panel of 55,000 U.S. adults.
Sexual orientation was self-identified, IPV was assessed using the Humiliate/Afraid/Rape/Kick (HARK) tool, and PTSD symptoms were assessed using the PTSD Checklist-5 survey; all data were self-reported.
Researchers examined IPV experiences and IPV-related PTSD symptoms by sexual orientation.
Participants
Participants were 411 female Veterans aged 18 years or older who resided in the U.S.
Approximately 9.7% of the female Veterans identified as lesbian, bisexual, or questioning (LBQ) and 90.3% identified as heterosexual.
The average age of the LBQ and heterosexual groups was 44.26 and 52.89 years, respectively. Both samples were approximately 69% White and 31% non-White.
Limitations
Researchers did not determine whether the perpetrators of IPV were male or female, and therefore assumptions regarding IPV in same-sex relationships or by gender cannot be made.
Approximately 69% of the data were gathered from White women, thus reducing the generalizability to female Veterans of other races and ethnicities.
The study relied upon retrospective, self-report data which are subject to recall and self-report bias.
Avenues for Future Research
Conduct a study that includes questions about the gender of the perpetrator and distinguishes between sexual orientation and sexual behaviors
Include more racial and ethnic diversity to broaden generalizability among female Veterans
Use a longitudinal design to better understand the timing of IPV to determine at which points the risk for PTSD may increase (e.g., prior to enlistment or after combat exposure)
Focus
Multiple Branches
Target Population
Population Focus
Military Branch
Military Component
Abstract
National estimates suggest intimate partner violence (IPV) rates are equal or higher among lesbian, bisexual, or questioning (LBQ)-identified women than heterosexual-identified women. Women veterans are a population at high risk for IPV, yet the occurrence of lifetime and past-year IPV experiences by sexual orientation have not been examined in this population. Lifetime and past-year IPV experiences and current IPV-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms were assessed with validated screening measures as part of a 2014 web-based national survey of women veterans. Among 403 respondents, 9.7% (n = 39) identified as LBQ, and 90.3% (n = 364) identified as heterosexual. When controlling for age, LBQ-identified women veterans were significantly more likely to report lifetime sexual and physical IPV and lifetime intimate partner stalking. In the past year, LBQ-identified veterans were twice as likely to endorse emotional mistreatment and physical IPV, and three times more likely to endorse sexual IPV, than were heterosexual-identified women veterans. However, sexual orientation was unrelated to IPV-related PTSD symptoms, when controlling for age, race, and number IPV forms experienced. IPV is prevalent among LBQ-identified women veterans, suggesting the need to understand the potentially unique contextual factors and health-care needs of this group.
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