Internalized stigma, negative affect, and intimate partner violence perpetration among sexual minority couples

Internalized stigma may increase the risk for intimate partner violence (IPV) among sexual minority couples. However, open questions remain about how identity-specific risk factors like internalized stigma connect with general IPV risk factors such as negative emotions during communication, which could become particularly heightened when partners discuss identity-based stigma. We examined how one's own and one's partner's internalized stigma and negative affect after lab-based stressor discussions were associated with physical, psychological, and identity-specific IPV perpetration. We conducted an online study with 84 sexual minority couples in which at least one partner had experienced past 6-month discrimination. Couples completed self-report measures and engaged in two, 8-min stressor discussions related to (a) sexual orientation-based discrimination and (b) life stress not related to sexual orientation. Current negative affect was measured after each discussion. Data were analyzed with Bayesian actor-partner interdependence mediation models. Results showed that internalized stigma was not directly or indirectly associated with physical IPV perpetration. Internalized stigma was both directly and indirectly (via negative affect reported after life stressor discussions) associated with psychological IPV perpetration, but not when accounting for coping displayed during discussions. Further, internalized stigma was directly and indirectly (via negative affect reported after discrimination stressor discussions) associated with identity-specific IPV perpetration via partner effects. Results highlight the importance of addressing internalized stigma and emotional reactivity to reduce psychological and identity-specific IPV perpetration among couples. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).