Study examines domestic violence in male same-sex couples

A new study from the University of Michigan reveals that nearly half of all men in same-sex  couples report being victims of abuse. The study recruited 160 male couples in Atlanta, Boston and Chicago to complete individual surveys.

The study says that 46 percent of respondents reported experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) during the past year. It indicates an association between internalized homophobia and risk for IPV among male couples.

The report found age to be a factor in IPV, with incidents of violence decrease with age, a finding similar to studies of IPV in heterosexual couples. Financial stress, depression and alcohol and drug use in relationships are also factors in violence between same-sex male and female couples and opposite-sex couples.

Male-male couple violence may also be caused by a difference in the degree of “outness” between the persons in the relationship.

Internalized homophobia and the stress of being a minority may also increase the risk of IPV, with other behaviors such as drug and alcohol use also having significant effects when combined with the homophobia issues.

Another factor that the report discusses is “traditionally hegemonic views of masculinity that they had difficulty negotiating, referred to as ‘struggling to be the alpha’”.

The study discusses a wide variety of factors that may cause IPV in same-sex male couples, and identifies several implications on public and individual health.  One of those is associated with the risk of HIV transmission or acquisition.

The study, titled “Dyadic Reporting of Intimate Partner Violence Among Male Couples in Three U.S. Cities”, was written by Nicolas A. Suarez, Matthew J. Mimiaga, Robert Garofalo and more.

The full study can be viewed here.

If you are in an abusive relationship or have suffered abuse, advice is available here.

Copyright The Gayly – July 29, 2018 @ 2:45 p.m. CDT.