Domestic Violence May Be More Common in Same-Sex Relationships

Recent findings published in the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy show that domestic violence may be more common among same-sex couples.

Studies have shown that roughly 25 percent to 75 percent of lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals deal with the problem. However, overall, there is lack of data on the issue.

"Evidence suggests that the minority stress model may explain these high prevalence rates," said senior author Richard Carroll, associate professor in psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a psychologist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, in a news release. "Domestic violence is exacerbated because same-sex couples are dealing with the additional stress of being a sexual minority. This leads to reluctance to address domestic violence issues."

"There has been a lot of research on domestic violence but it hasn't looked as carefully at the subgroup of same-sex couples," Carroll added. "Another obstacle is getting the appropriate samples because of the stigma that has been attached to sexual orientation. In the past, individuals were reluctant to talk about it."

Of the research that has examined same-sex domestic violence, most has concentrated on lesbians rather than gay men and bisexuals.

"Men may not want to see themselves as the victim, to present themselves as un-masculine and unable to defend themselves," Carroll said.

The findings suggest that homosexual men and woman may not report many of the issues due to fears of discrimination and fears of being blamed for abuse of their partner. They may also worry about their sexual orientation being revealed before they are comfortable.

Fortunately, researchers note that many mental health services are becoming more readily available for those in same-sex partnerships.