Sexual Intimate Partner Violence Research Articles

Prevalence of infertility and its association with intimate partner violence in Tanzania: Findings from the 2022 Demographic and Health Survey.

We first estimated the prevalence of primary and secondary infertility in Tanzania and then examined its association with recent experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV). We used cross-sectional data from the Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey 2022 and included 6894 women aged 20-49 years to estimate the prevalence of primary and secondary infertility. In a subset of 2802 partnered women who were surveyed about physical, emotional, and sexual IPV, we also examined the association of any form of IPV in the 12 months prior to the survey with both primary and secondary infertility using multivariable logistic regression. The prevalence of primary infertility was 1.8% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.0, 3.1) and secondary infertility was 15.4% (95% CI: 2.1, 61.0). Primary infertility was higher in urban areas (1.9%) compared to rural areas (1.7%) (P < 0.001). Over one-third (37.9%) of the women who were surveyed concerning IPV reported experiencing at least one form of IPV in the 12 months prior to the survey. Almost one-fifth (18.3%) of women with secondary infertility had experienced at least one form of violence in the past 12 months prior to the survey, compared to 1.5% with primary infertility (P = 0.656). Women with secondary infertility were 1.58 times more likely to have experienced any form of IPV (aOR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.08, 2.33). In Tanzania, the high prevalences of both infertility and IPV and the link between the two warrants the need for strengthening infertility care and treatment and support for women experiencing IPV.

Intimate Partner Violence during the Index Pregnancy and its correlates among a panel of pregnant women in Ethiopia, evidence from performance, and monitoring for action (PMA) 2021 cohort two baseline survey.

Current intimate partner violence (IPV) in Ethiopia is considerably high. This study aimed at determining the prevalence of IPV among a panel of pregnant women during their index pregnancy and identify its correlates using Performance Monitoring for action (PMA) cohort 2 baseline data. Documenting the magnitude of IPV thus far during the index pregnancy and identifying factors affecting it contributes its share for the ministry and relevant developmental partners in tracking progress towards eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls by 2030. We conducted a further analysis of national level follow up secondary data sets from Performance Monitoring for action Ethiopian (E_PMA). This study used PMA cohort two baseline data which enrolled pregnant and recently postpartum women and collected real time data on various sexual, reproductive, maternal and new born nationwide priority indicators using customized Open Data Kit Mobile application. These data were collected using standard pretested questionnaire prepared in three local languages (Amharic, Afan Oromo and Tigrigna) by well experienced resident enumerators. This study was restricted to 1,796 pregnant women at the enrollment. Frequency was computed to describe the study participant's characteristics, and chi-square statistics was used to assess cell sample size adequacy. Multilevel binary logistics regression model building process was employed to identify correlates of IPV. Results were presented in the form percentages and odds ratio with 95% Confidence Intervals. Candidate variables were selected using p-value of 0.25. Statistical significance was declared at p-value of 0.05. One in six; 16.7% (14.81%, 18.76%) pregnant women have reported experiencing at least one form of physical and/or sexual IPV thus far in their index pregnancy. The prevalence of encountering at least one form of sexual violence was 12.53% (10.91%, 14.35%) while 7% (5.5%, 8.3%) of them experienced at least one form physical intimate partner violence thus far during their index pregnancy. Women perceived risk about contraceptive use ((AOR: 95% CI: 1.66 (1.10, 2.47)), higher birth order ((AOR: 95% CI: 1.88 (1.05, 3.34)), unhappy emotional fertility intention when learned their index pregnancy ((AOR: 95% CI: 1.7 (1.02, 2.84)) and a family size of 4to 5 ((AOR: 95% CI: 1.87 (1.11. 3.14)) were the fixed effects factors found to increase the odds of IPV significantly and positively. On the contrary, being in the third trimester of gestation at enrollment was another fixed effect variable which contributed for the 44% lower odds ((AOR: 95% CI: 0.56 (0.34, 0.92)) of experiencing IPV thus far in their index pregnancy. The overall burden of IPV reported was high; with nearly double the percentage of women experiencing sexual violence during the index pregnancy compared to physical IPV. More work needs to be done to achieve zero tolerance against any form of violence among women and girls in general and among pregnant women in particular. Efforts targeted in improving women perception on issue related with their contraceptive use, counseling women on how to prevent IPV during their antenatal care (ANC) visit along with advising the use of inter pregnancy contraception and empowering them to control on their fertility are hoped to mitigate such considerably higher odds of IPV among pregnant women. Further programs and intervention on awareness creation towards the misconception that women held about contraceptive use would contribute much. These activities and efforts need to target younger women. The implication of the findings calls key actors and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Health Minster to design and implement programs on women emotional fertility readiness and empowering them to control over their fertility through diversified contraceptive provision which is critical in combating the reported substantial IPV experience during pregnancy. Creating institutional capacity in the health system through strengthening and expanding one stop centers to provide medical treatment, care, and psychosocial support for victims and survivors could play a pivotal role. In addition, installing rapid referral system and linkage to the legal system could play a vital role. Moreover, working on early marriage and counseling on childbirth; and spaced pregnancy for those young couples is imperative. Further implication of this study was installing contraceptive and violence related preconception care packages in the health system is very critical in the combat against IPV and any form of gender based violence.

Disability and intimate partner violence experience among women in rural Samoa: A cross-sectional analysis.

Women with disabilities experience higher rates of intimate partner violence (IPV). Evidence suggests this violence often manifests in more subtle and severe forms over longer periods of time. There is limited evidence on this association in the Pacific Islands region, despite facing one of the highest global prevalences of IPV. Examine the prevalence of disability and the association between disability and types of IPV experience among women in rural Samoa as part of the EVE Project. This study analysed cross-sectional data collected with nine communities in rural Samoa between December 2022 and February 2023. Enumerators collected data with 707 women on tablets using REDCap. IPV was measured using the standardised Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) domestic violence methodology. Disability was assessed using the Washington Group questions. Logistic regression was conducted to examine the association between disability and experiences of IPV (physical, sexual, emotional and economic violence) among women. Having a disability was significantly associated with increased IPV experience among women in this study. When controlling for age and education, women with severe disability were significantly more likely to experience sexual (OR 4.31; p=0.01) and emotional (OR 2.87; p=0.02) IPV, when compared to women with no disability. Our findings point towards a greater vulnerability of women with disabilities to IPV, and particularly sexual and emotional IPV, in rural Samoa. Qualitative research in partnership with women with disabilities is essential to inform the design of measurement tools and prevention programmes that are grounded in the context-specific experiences and needs of all women with disabilities.

Elucidating Heterogeneity of Intimate Partner Violence Among Women: Latent Class Analysis of Daily IPV, PTSD, and Substance Use Collected via Experience Sampling Methodologies.

The co-occurrence of physical, psychological, and sexual intimate partner violence (IPV) is associated with heightened risk for deleterious mental and physical health outcomes, including PTSD symptoms and substance use. However, few studies have investigated the heterogeneity of experiences with respect to this co-occurrence among women who experience IPV as it unfolds naturally in women's daily lives. In this study, we developed a novel approach to classify and visualize daily patterns of IPV experiences, PTSD-related distress, and substance use among women who experience IPV. Women (N = 244, Mage = 37.1 years) who reported experiencing IPV and using substances were recruited from the community. Micro-longitudinal data were collected four times per day for 14 days using automated telephone-based data collection. Analyses included latent class analysis (LCA) and multilevel analysis (interval-, day-, and person-level), complimented by novel data visualization tool (EventFlow). We identified three classes that significantly differed in the prevalence of and patterns among IPV types, PTSD, and substance use. Based on examination of LCA results and visualization of the latent classes in EventFlow. Different patterns of associations among IPV types, PTSD symptoms, and substance use were identified within classes at the interval-, day-, and person-level. Results from this study provide greater insight into the heterogeneity of women's lived experiences than do studies solely relying on cross-sectional survey data. Findings with this type of data collection can inform the development of interventions to increase the precision in clinical practice, identify new avenues for future research, and have important policy implications.

Dysmenorrhea in Polish Adolescent Girls: Impact on Physical, Mental, and Social Well-Being—Results from POLKA 18 Study

Background: Dysmenorrhea, characterised by painful menstrual cramps, is a pressing issue among adolescent girls globally. It significantly impacts their quality of life and has been associated with increased mental health issues and engagement in risky behaviours like smoking. In Poland, there is limited research on menstrual health, emphasising the need for a study to understand dysmenorrhea experiences and their impact on young menstruating individuals. Methods: This research project investigated the effects of dysmenorrhea on quality of life and school attendance, as well as its associations with non-communicable diseases, including mental health among adolescent girls in Poland. Additionally, the study examined risk factors for non-communicable disease development, including high-risk health behaviours and exposure to violence. The study utilised a cross-sectional design, administering self-reported questionnaires in high schools and vocational schools in six voivodeships (regions) in Poland. The analysis was performed using the R language in the Rstudio environment. p-value &lt; 0.05 was considered significant. Results: A significant percentage of respondents experienced heavy menstruation, irregularity, and pain. Adolescents with dysmenorrhea reported higher rates of school absenteeism, mental health issues (such as anxiety and panic attacks), and a higher likelihood of engagement in risk behaviours like smoking and illicit drug use. The study also identified associations between dysmenorrhea and experiences of violence, including sexual abuse and intimate partner violence, as well as links to self-harm and suicidal ideation. Conclusions: These findings contribute to understanding dysmenorrhea among Polish adolescent girls, emphasising the need for tailored interventions and support services. The study underscores the necessity of addressing menstrual health comprehensively, considering its impact on various aspects of young women’s lives and promoting their overall well-being.

The relationship between intimate partner violence and parenting styles with mediated attachment styles in Iranian women

PurposeThe primary aim of this study was to investigate the role of attachment styles as intermediaries in the relationship between intimate partner violence (IPV) and parenting styles among Iranian women.MethodsData for this study was collected between September and December 2020. The participants consisted of 102 women who had been referred to Social Emergency Centers in Isfahan due to their experiences with domestic violence. Participants filled out the Haj-Yahia Violence Questionnaire, Baumrind Parenting Styles Questionnaire (BPSQ), and the Attachment Styles Questionnaire (AAQ). To examine the hypothesized relationships, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used.ResultsEconomic IPV victimization was negatively related to secure attachment (β = − 0.309, p = 0.019) and positively related with authoritative parenting (β = 0.422, p = 0.019) and avoidant attachment style (β = 0.563, p = 0.000). There was a significant, positive relationship between sexual IPV victimization with secure and avoidant attachment styles (β = 0.351, p = 0.011; β = 0.407, p = 0.000). Authoritative parenting style was related to avoidant attachment (β = − 0.524, p = 0.015) and secure attachment (β = 0.371, p = 0.000).ConclusionsIranian IPV victims with secure attachment style were more likely to utilize authoritative parenting and those who have avoidant attachment were less likely to use authoritative parenting. Attachment styles may influence the relationship between IPV and parenting styles in Iranian women who have experienced IPV.

Development and Validation of the Intimate Partner Sexual Violence Scale (IPSVS): A Multi-Dimensional Scale to Measure Sexual Violence in Intimate Relationships.

Intimate partner sexual violence (IPSV) is defined as any non-consensual sexual behavior perpetrated within an intimate relationship. It is overwhelmingly perpetrated by men against women and causes significant harm to the health and wellbeing of victim/survivors. Although it is generally accepted that IPSV is globally prevalent, to date, comprehensive instruments to measure IPSV have been lacking. Moreover, existing measurement tools have largely failed to capture the diversity of perpetrator tactics, the deeply degrading and dehumanizing nature of many IPSV behaviors, and the role of perpetrator intent. As a result, there is a dearth of robust quantitative data to help understand the nature and magnitude of the problem. This article describes the development of a new multi-dimensional measurement tool-the Intimate Partner Sexual Violence Scale (IPSVS). The IPSVS is grounded in qualitative evidence from victim/survivors and examines IPSV as a multi-dimensional phenomenon with perpetrator intent as a central organizing principle. Following consultation with experts, a representative sample of 702 women victim/survivors in Australia completed an online survey including 34 IPSV behaviors to establish reliability and validity of the items. Exploratory factor analysis revealed 20 items across 3 factors-"Dominance and humiliation," "Emotional coercion," and "Aggressive indifference"-explaining 52.681% of the variance. Cronbach's alphas ranged from .741 to .890. These domains highlight that different perpetrator motivations may underlie different types of IPSV, challenging the predominant classification of IPSV according to severity or level of physical harm. The IPSVS has the potential to dramatically improve measurement of sexual violence in intimate relationships and has important implications for future research and practice.

College Students' Coercive Sexting and Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration in Shorter- and Longer-Term Relationships.

This study examines the moderating role of relationship length on the association between coercive sexting and intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration. Research has supported a positive association between coercive sexting and IPV perpetration (Drouin et al., 2015), though no prior research has examined how relationship length moderates this association. To test this relationship, we administered a multipart questionnaire online to 798 undergraduate participants (79% White, 77% female, MAge = 19.1 years) currently in a relationship. We assessed physical, psychological, and sexual IPV perpetration. Relationship length moderated the link between coercive sexting and sexual IPV perpetration. More specifically, the association was stronger in longer-term compared to shorter-term relationships. These results carry implications for future research and IPV education and intervention programs, suggesting that they should incorporate coercive sexting into their curriculums and target newer couples.

Understanding the Impact of Sexual Youth Intimate Partner Violence: Unmasking the Social Consequences for Young Victims

This study focuses on sexual youth intimate partner violence (YIPV), what it is like to be young and subjected to such violence and how this experience affects a young person. Drawing upon 27 interviews with victims (ages 17–24) of sexual YIPV, we ask: How does psychological aspects influence how sexual YIPV and control were experienced? How are young victims affected by the violence? From a social perspective, how can we understand the consequences? The results suggest that experiences of sexual YIPV may lead to consequences such as development of a negative body image and difficulties having sex; loss of bodily control; and using sex as a means of self-injury. Our findings also show how sexual YIPV is interconnected with other forms of violence. The findings are valuable to professionals supporting young victims of sexual IPV, as they shed light on how sexual YIPV may affect young victims.

At their fingertips: What is the impact of online reporting of domestic violence?

AbstractGlobal reports indicate that 307 million women have suffered physical or sexual intimate partner violence during the last 12 months. Yet, chronic underreporting of domestic violence (DV) is still a reality in the United States and worldwide. The process of going to a police station and reporting DV is extremely burdensome, leading to numerous psychological effects on the victim and lost opportunity cost of stopping the violence cycle. This study investigates the impacts of bypassing police contact by enabling online reporting and requesting of protective orders (POs) in Brazil. Through novel databases and by using a Synthetic Control, I find that online reporting of DV led to a 29.5% increase in the average monthly requests of POs. This translates to roughly 373 new requests of POs. Implications of these findings are discussed.

The Proximal Association Between Cyber and In-Person IPV Among College Students.

Although some evidence suggests that cyber intimate partner violence (IPV) may increase the risk of in-person IPV, some have suggested that cyber IPV may circumvent in-person IPV. To address these mixed hypotheses, the present study tested the hypothesis that cyber IPV perpetration and victimization would associate with greater odds of same and next-day psychological, physical, and sexual IPV perpetration and victimization among college students. College students (N = 236; 73.73% cisgender women) in dating relationships completed a baseline questionnaire to assess demographic characteristics and past-year cyber, psychological, physical, and sexual IPV. Following baseline assessments, participants completed 60 consecutive days of surveys on cyber, psychological, physical, and sexual IPV perpetration and victimization (71.67% compliance). Hypotheses were partially supported. Cyber IPV perpetration positively associated with odds of same-day psychological IPV perpetration (aOR = 2.46, p = .02) and next-day sexual IPV perpetration (aOR = 3.32, p < .001). Cyber IPV victimization positively associated with odds of same-day psychological IPV victimization (aOR = 5.20, p = .00). Results demonstrate that college students experience IPV both online and in-person within a single day. Cyber IPV may be a targetable antecedent to in-person sexual and psychological IPV. Future research is needed to evaluate the impact of same- and next-day polyvictimization, bidirectional cyber and in-person IPV, and the effectiveness of targeting cyber IPV prevention programming among college students.

Alcohol use as a predictor of intimate partner violence in emerging adulthood: A dyadic daily diary investigation.

Numerous studies have demonstrated that alcohol preceded and increased the odds of intimate partner violence (IPV). These prior studies were restricted to one dyad member despite theory suggesting that acute alcohol use by both partners should increase the risk for IPV to a greater degree than when only one partner drinks. We hypothesized that alcohol use by both dyad members, relative to one or no dyad members, would proximally precede and increase the odds of IPV perpetration and victimization. A 60-day daily diary design was used, where both dyad members of dating couples completed independent reports on IPV perpetration/victimization and alcohol use via a secure survey website. Alcohol using college-student couples, aged 18-25 (n = 181 couples), from a Midwestern university in the United States participated. A convenience sample strategy was used. Daily surveys asked about alcohol use and IPV perpetration and victimization the prior day, including whether alcohol use preceded or followed IPV. The primary outcome was psychological IPV; secondary outcomes were physical and sexual IPV. Longitudinal random effects models suggested statistically significant associations between drinking behavior and IPV outcomes. The odds of psychological IPV perpetration were higher when both partners were drinking relative to one partner drinking [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.13, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.06-1.99]. Exploratory analyses showed some indication that the odds of physical IPV victimization were higher when both partners were drinking relative to one partner drinking (aOR = 2.09, 95% CI = 1.71-4.21). The risk for intimate partner violence appears to be greater when both partners drink, relative to one partner or neither partner.

Improvements in Safety Outcomes Following Brief Healthcare-Based Intimate Partner Violence Interventions among Women Who Screen Positive for Intimate Partner Violence-Related Traumatic Brain Injuries.

Background: Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are a common consequence of experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV). IPV-related TBI contributes to adverse health outcomes among women, but it is unknown whether a history of IPV-related TBI negatively impacts safety outcomes following healthcare-based interventions for IPV. Methods: Using data from a larger randomized clinical trial, we explored the impact of IPV-related TBI status on safety-related outcomes in two healthcare-based IPV interventions. At baseline, 35% (n = 21) of the sample screened positive for IPV-related TBI history. We used repeated measures ANOVAs to examine differences in safety outcomes at post-treatment and 1-month follow-up based on treatment condition and IPV-related TBI status. Results: Significant interaction effects were found for safety outcomes, such that women with IPV-related TBI history experienced larger reductions in the frequency of physical IPV and similar reductions in sexual IPV across both treatment conditions compared to women without IPV-TBI (F(2, 102) = 10.88, p < 0.001; F(2, 98) = 3.93, p = 0.036). Conclusions: Findings suggest that brief healthcare-based IPV interventions may result in improvements in safety outcomes for women with a history of IPV-TBI. This highlights the continued need for implementation of promising IPV-focused interventions to promote safety and protect women from experiencing further IPV.

The Effect of Intimate Partner Violence on Child Undernutrition in Zambia

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a critical global issue affecting millions of individuals and constitutes a serious violation of human rights. In Zambia, an estimated 41% of women aged 15&amp;ndash;49 years have experienced physical and/or sexual IPV at least once in their lifetime. This study assessed the effect of mothers&amp;rsquo; experience of IPV on child undernutrition in Zambia. We analyzed data pooled from three rounds of nationally representative cross-sectional household surveys (Zambia Demographic and Health Survey: ZDHS-2007, ZDHS-2013/14, and ZDHS-2018), including 29 817 children under 5 years of age. Results from multivariate multilevel logistic regression analyses showed that mothers&amp;rsquo; exposure to emotional violence significantly increased the likelihood of stunting among girls (OR = 1.145, p = 0.037). The negative effects of mothers&amp;rsquo; exposure to IPV were confirmed for both less severe and severe violence on girls&amp;rsquo; stunting (OR = 1.214, p = 0.001 and OR = 1.230, p = 0.011, respectively). Nonetheless, mothers&amp;rsquo; experience of IPV had no significant effects on underweight or wasting among girls, nor on any indicator of undernutrition among boys. Protecting mothers from IPV could be beneficial for improving child development in Zambia.

Intimate Partner Violence Among Adolescent Mothers Living With and Without HIV: A Pre- and During–COVID-19 South African Cohort Analysis

PurposeAdolescent mothers face heightened economic and social vulnerabilities, which can place them at increased risk of intimate partner violence (IPV), prepandemic, and during COVID-19. However, few studies examine this population, and even less disaggregate findings by HIV status. MethodsWe analyzed data from 834 South African adolescent mothers, 35% living with HIV (LHIV), who reported on physical, psychological, and sexual IPV exposure at two interviews: 2018-2019 (prepandemic) and 2021-2022 (during COVID-19). We estimated lifetime prevalence of IPV, disaggregating by HIV status. We used inverse weighted probability multivariate mixed-effects logistic regression to examine changes in IPV between the two periods and if changes in IPV differed by HIV status. ResultsA quarter of adolescent mothers had experienced any IPV during COVID-19, quadruple prepandemic levels (24.7% vs. 6.0%). The increase was driven by surges in physical (+15.7%) and psychological (+11.2%) IPV. In both periods, psychosocial and physical IPV were the most prevalent forms and the most common combination among those who had experienced multiple forms of IPV. Exposure to any IPV was significantly more prevalent among those LHIV compared to those without HIV, prepandemic (9.5% vs. 4.1%, p = .026) and during COVID-19 (31.8% vs. 20.6%, p < .001). Adjusted models revealed an 18.2% significant increase in the average predicted probability of reporting IPV during COVID-19 compared to prepandemic, with no differential effect by HIV status. DiscussionAdolescent mothers experienced a significantly higher burden of IPV during COVID-19 than prepandemic, with those LHIV experiencing the highest level. Initiatives to reduce IPV need to reach adolescent mothers, particularly those living with HIV.

Prevalence of Intimate Partner Violence in Young to Middle Adulthood: Associations With Respondent Gender, Sexual Orientation, and Partner Gender.

We estimate past-year physical and sexual intimate partner violence (IPV) prevalence from early to middle adulthood, examining associations with respondent gender, sexual orientation, and partner gender. We used three waves of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. For each wave, we estimated IPV prevalence, stratified by gender, sexual orientation, and partner gender. Findings indicate that diverse-sexual males and females are more likely to experience IPV compared to heterosexuals. Further, diverse-sexual males are less likely to experience physical and sexual IPV if they have a same-gender partner. In contrast, heterosexual males are more likely to experience physical and sexual IPV if they have same-gender partners. All females were more likely to experience physical and sexual violence if they have different-gender partners.

Evaluating strategies for intimate partner violence and sexual violence (CDC)

Evaluating strategies for intimate partner violence and sexual violence (CDC)

Alcohol use and intimate partner violence victimization among young adults with a history of perpetration: An ecological momentary assessment study.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a major public health concern among young adults and has shown a consistent association with alcohol use. However, previous research has used cross-sectional and daily diary designs that may fail to pinpoint the effects of alcohol use within several hours of IPV occurring. The present study used novel ecological momentary assessment (EMA) methods to investigate the bidirectional effect of alcohol use and IPV victimization among young adults with a history of IPV perpetration. One hundred and sixty-eight young adults (age 18-25 years) in a dating relationship who reported IPV perpetration in the past year completed 28 days of randomly prompted EMA surveys (four surveys daily). The effect of alcohol use on IPV victimization and the effect of IPV victimization on alcohol use were examined. The results indicated that alcohol use co-occurs with psychological and physical IPV victimization. Further, alcohol use significantly increased the odds of physical (OR = 4.94; 95% CI = 2.24-10.87) and sexual (OR = 4.66; 95% CI = 1.64-13.22) IPV victimization, but not psychological IPV victimization, in the subsequent EMA survey. Finally, IPV victimization did not significantly increase the odds of reporting alcohol use in the subsequent EMA survey. Using alcohol is proximally related to IPV victimization among those with a history of IPV perpetration. Intervention efforts would benefit from adapting EMA methods to provide resources the moment they are needed.

Intimate Partner Violence Victimization and Perpetration among Lesbians, Gays, and Bisexuals

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global health concern that profoundly affects not only heterosexual but also lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) populations. Although studies conducted outside Norway have reported similar prevalence rates of IPV in heterosexual and LGB relationships, no published studies from Norway, whether academic or from nongovernmental organizations, have focused specifically on IPV prevalence rates in the LGB population. One reason might be the absence of a standardized tool to measure IPV. In this study, as researchers with backgrounds in social psychology, violence and minority studies, we firstly aim to evaluate the validity of the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS-R) in understanding the intimate partner violence experiences of LGB individuals. Secondly, we investigate how common various forms of perpetration and victimization are within the LGB community, specifically looking at psychological aggression, physical assault, and sexual coercion. We are also interested in whether there are any differences in the experiences of these forms of violence based on sexual orientation. To conduct this research, we studied 285 LGB individuals in Norway, aged between 18 and 64 (mean age = 31.80 years). The results of a correlation analysis revealed that all types of victimization from and perpetration of violence are positively and strongly associated. Chi-square tests indicated that there was no significant difference among LGB individuals in psychological and physical victimization or perpetration. However, gay individuals reported significantly higher sexual IPV victimization and perpetration than lesbian and bisexual individuals. Overall, we suggest that the CTS-R has satisfactory construct validity and effectively helps gauge psychological, physical, and sexual IPV in the LGB population. Moreover, we conclude that psychological, physical, and sexual IPV perpetration and victimization are prevalent in LGB relationships in Norway, and thus, that LGB IPV warrants further investigation into its antecedents and consequences.

Intimate Partner Violence Predicts Child Marriage and Pregnancy Among Adolescents in Malawi.

A sizeable literature has shown that child marriage is associated with an increased risk for intimate partner violence (IPV). However, this research has been cross-sectional, and the temporality of the association has not been investigated. Specifically, no study has yet examined whether IPV is a predictor of child marriage and adolescent pregnancy. This study uses prospective longitudinal data on a cohort of adolescent girls from the Malawi Longitudinal Study of Families and Health to evaluate whether IPV victimization predicts child marriage or adolescent pregnancy. Using survival models, we find that adolescent girls who experienced physical IPV (measured at survey baseline, in 2017-2018) are more likely to enter child marriages (measured at survey follow-up, in 2021) (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.7 [1.44, 5.08]). Experiencing sexual IPV is also significantly associated with adolescent pregnancy (HR = 1.97 [1.16, 3.33]). These findings indicate the need for greater intervention to ensure healthy adolescent relationships, as well as further research to understand how abusive relationships shape early transitions to adulthood.