Sexual Minority Stressors and Intimate Partner Violence Among Same-Sex Couples: Commitment as a Resource

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Public Health

Background:

• Sexual minority stress is increasingly linked to intimate partner violence (IPV) in same-sex relationships.
• Gaps exist in understanding couple dynamics, mediating factors, and the impact of same-sex marriage legalization on IPV.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the associations between sexual minority stressors and same-sex IPV using dyadic data.
• To investigate the moderating and mediating roles of relationship commitment in these associations.
• To apply the systemic transactional model (STM) to understand these dynamics.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional, dyadic data from 144 US same-sex couples were collected during 2014-2015.
• Internalized homophobia and discrimination were assessed as sexual minority stressors.
• Intimate partner violence (IPV) prevalence and frequency were measured.

Main Results:

• Higher internalized homophobia and discrimination correlated with increased IPV perpetration.
• Relationship commitment moderated the association between discrimination and IPV.
• Internalized homophobia was linked to lower commitment, which in turn predicted higher IPV.

Conclusions:

• Commitment plays a dual role as a moderator and mediator in the relationship between sexual minority stress and same-sex IPV.
• The specific role of commitment (moderator vs. mediator) depends on the nature of the stressor (distal vs. proximal).
• Findings support the systemic transactional model in understanding IPV within same-sex couples.