Intimate Partner Violence Among Transgender Youth: Associations with Intrapersonal and Structural Factors

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious public health problem, linked with a number of poor health outcomes. Some research demonstrates that transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) youth may experience IPV at similar rates to heterosexual cisgender women; however, there is a dearth of data examining the experiences of IPV among this population. The exclusion of TGNC youth in IPV research and public health interventions is problematic because it contributes to a traditional gender-based heterosexual model of IPV that ignores the specific needs of TGNC populations. Given the pervasiveness of transphobic stigma in the United States and the complexities of the lives of TGNC youth, it is important to understand how both structural and individual factors are associated with IPV among TGNC youth. Using data from a cross-sectional survey of 131 TGNC youth from 14 different cities in the United States representing various regions of the country, this study explores the associations between a range of structural and intrapersonal factors and experiences of IPV victimization among TGNC youth. Separate logistic regression models were fit to examine the relationships between structural and intrapersonal factors and IPV. Structural results found that TGNC youth experiencing extreme victimization, a history of incarceration, and participation in sex work were much more likely to report IPV. The only intrapersonal variable that was associated with IPV was depressive symptomatology; however, this relationship was strong, with participants being nearly eight times more likely to report IPV if they experienced symptoms of depression. Gaining a better understanding of the complexity of both structural and intrapersonal factors among TGNC youth will greatly inform the development of IPV prevention and services for TGNC youth experiencing this type of violence.