This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

fact-checked

trusted source

proofread

COVID-19 pandemic increased the frequency of intimate partner violence

violence
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

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 , such as 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 ," said Perry N. Halkitis, dean of the Rutgers School of Public Health and senior study author. "However, 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 , 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, , sexual identity and mental health states.

These findings also support calls for increased -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.

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.

More information: Christopher B. Stults et al, 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, Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services (2022). DOI: 10.1080/10538720.2022.2116140

Provided by Rutgers University

Citation: COVID-19 pandemic increased the frequency of intimate partner violence (2023, April 7) retrieved 7 March 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2023-04-covid-pandemic-frequency-intimate-partner.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Intimate partner violence among some LGBT couples increased during pandemic

1 shares

Feedback to editors