Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2017
DOI
10.1037/vio0000036
Publication Title
Psychology of Violence
Volume
7
Issue
1
Pages
110-119
Abstract
Objective: This study proposed and tested the first conceptual model of sexual minority specific (discrimination, internalized homophobia) and more general risk factors (perpetrator and partner alcohol use, anger, relationship satisfaction) for intimate partner violence among partnered lesbian women.
Method: Selfidentified lesbian women (N = 1,048) were recruited from online market research panels. Participants completed an online survey that included measures of minority stress, anger, alcohol use and alcohol-related problems, relationship satisfaction, psychological aggression, and physical violence.
Results: The model demonstrated good fit and significant links from sexual minority discrimination to internalized homophobia and anger, from internalized homophobia to anger and alcohol problems, and from alcohol problems to intimate partner violence. Partner alcohol use predicted partner physical violence. Relationship dissatisfaction was associated with physical violence via psychological aggression. Physical violence was bidirectional.
Conclusions: Minority stress, anger, alcohol use, and alcohol-related problems play an important role in perpetration of psychological aggression and physical violence in lesbian women's intimate partner relationships. The results of this study provide evidence of potentially modifiable sexual minority specific and more general risk factors for lesbian women's partner violence.
Original Publication Citation
Lewis, R. J., Mason, T. B., Winstead, B. A., & Kelley, M. L. (2017). Empirical investigation of a model of sexual minority specific and general risk factors for intimate partner violence among lesbian women. Psychology of Violence, 7(1), 110-119. doi:10.1037/vio0000036
ORCID
0000-0003-4010-9396 (Lewis), 0000-0001-7284-7890 (Mason)
Repository Citation
Lewis, Robin J.; Mason, Tyler B.; Winstead, Barbara A.; and Kelley, Michelle L., "Empirical Investigation of a Model of Sexual Minority Specific and General Risk Factors for Intimate Partner Violence Among Lesbian Women" (2017). Psychology Faculty Publications. 24.
https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/psychology_fac_pubs/24
Included in
Clinical Psychology Commons, Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence Commons, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies Commons
Comments
NOTE: This is the author's manuscript version (peer-reviewed and accepted for publication) of a work that was published in Psychology of Violence. The final version was published in final edited form as:
Lewis, R. J., Mason, T. B., Winstead, B. A., & Kelley, M. L. (2017). Empirical investigation of a model of sexual minority specific and general risk factors for intimate partner violence among lesbian women. Psychology of Violence, 7(1), 110-119. doi:10.1037/vio0000036
Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/vio0000036