Dardis, C. M., Shipherd, J. C., & Iverson, K. M. (2017). Intimate partner violence among women veterans by sexual orientation. Women & Health, 57(7), 775-791. doi:10.1080/03630242.2016.1202884

Lesbian, bisexual, or questioning (LBQ)-identified women experience intimate partner violence (IPV) at similar or higher rates than heterosexual women. Female Veterans also have a high risk for IPV. Although LBQ women are disproportionately represented in the military relative to the general population, IPV experiences relative to sexual orientation have not been examined. This study examined lifetime and past-year IPV experiences and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms by sexual orientation. Results suggest that LBQ female Veterans were more likely to report IPV; however, sexual orientation was unrelated to IPV-related PTSD symptoms.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03630242.2016.1202884

Couples
Other
Physical health
Veterans

Multiple branches

Veteran

Adulthood (18 yrs & older)

Empirical Study
Quantitative Study

Dardis, Christina M., Shipherd, Jillian C., Iverson, Katherine M.

National estimates suggest intimate partner violence (IPV) rates are equal or higher among lesbian, bisexual, or questioning (LBQ)-identified women than heterosexual-identified women. Women veterans are a population at high risk for IPV, yet the occurrence of lifetime and past-year IPV experiences by sexual orientation have not been examined in this population. Lifetime and past-year IPV experiences and current IPV-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms were assessed with validated screening measures as part of a 2014 web-based national survey of women veterans. Among 403 respondents, 9.7% (n = 39) identified as LBQ, and 90.3% (n = 364) identified as heterosexual. When controlling for age, LBQ-identified women veterans were significantly more likely to report lifetime sexual and physical IPV and lifetime intimate partner stalking. In the past year, LBQ-identified veterans were twice as likely to endorse emotional mistreatment and physical IPV, and three times more likely to endorse sexual IPV, than were heterosexual-identified women veterans. However, sexual orientation was unrelated to IPV-related PTSD symptoms, when controlling for age, race, and number IPV forms experienced. IPV is prevalent among LBQ-identified women veterans, suggesting the need to understand the potentially unique contextual factors and health-care needs of this group.

Haworth Press

Article
REACH Publication

National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, CMD
National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, JCS
National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, KMI