NCJ Number
184364
Journal
Journal of Family Violence Volume: 15 Issue: 3 Dated: September 2000 Pages: 281-293
Editor(s)
Vincent B. Van Hasselt,
Michel Hersen
Date Published
September 2000
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This study contributed to the data about same-sex relationship violence with a large sample of 499 ethnically diverse gay men, lesbians, and bisexual and trans-gendered people.
Abstract
The study sample was drawn primarily from the Houston, Texas, area. Of the 499 participants, 227 were men, 265 were women, and 7 identified themselves as male to female transgendered. Physical violence was reported in 9 percent of current and 32 percent of past relationships. One percent of participants experienced forced sex in their current relationships, and 9 percent reported this experience in past relationships. Emotional abuse was reported by 83 percent of participants. Women reported higher frequencies than men for physical abuse, coercion, shame, threats, and use of children for control. Across types of abuse, ethnic differences emerged regarding physical abuse and coercion. Differences across age groups were found with respect to coercion, shame, and use of children as tools. Higher income was correlated with increased threats and stalking and with sexual, physical, and financial abuse. Bisexual and transgendered people were more likely than either gay men or lesbians to use their children for control, were equally likely as lesbians to be threatened, and were less likely than either gay men or lesbians to experience coercion and shame. 20 references and 6 tables