These summaries were written by SVPEP staff and are based on original papers published within the last 3 years. The information available on this web site is provided as a public service and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, the Arizona Department of Health Services, or the University of Arizona. To conduct an individual search or locate older articles use the Search Summary Database which includes over 600 articles related to sexual violence.

Brown, C. (2008). Gender-role implications on same-sex intimate partner abuse.  Journal of Family Violence, 23, 457-462. [Posted July 2008]
 
Key Points: Sociocultural factors influence how same-sex intimate partner abuse is viewed, studied, reported and treated. 

Summary: The paper explores the effects that gender role socialization and heterosexism have on same-sex abusive relationships and stigma and barriers to reporting abuse.  It summarizes similarities and differences of heterosexual and same-sex couples.  A framework for professionals and issues created by minority stress are also discussed.

Limitations:  Most of the literature reviewed focuses on lesbian couples due to the fact there is little literature regarding IPV among gay men.

Topics: community responses/ attitudes, LGBT, myths/stereotypes, underserved populations

Heintz, A. J., & Melendez, R. M. (2006). Intimate partner violence and HIV/STD risk among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 21, 193-208.

The goal of the study was to examine HIV and sexually transmitted disease risk (STD) among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals who were in abusive relationships. Study participants were LGBT individuals who sought services for intimate partner violence. The survey data from 58 participants was analyzed. Almost half of the participants (41%) reported being forced to have sex with an intimate partner. A third of participants (31%) reported never engaging in safer sex practices with an abusive partner. Reasons for not engaging in safer sex protection included wanting to avoid problems with the partner and fearing partner's response. Several individuals reported experiencing verbal, physical, and/or sexual abuse as a result of requesting safer sex. Implications for screening and safety planning are discussed.

Topics: Lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender

Lankenau, S., Clatts, M., Welle, D., Goldsamt, L., & Gwadz, M. (2005). Street careers: Homelessness, drug use, and sex work among young men who have sex with men (YMSM). International Journal of Drug Policy, 16, 10-18. [Posted August 2006]

Key Points: Effective social policies and interventions will recognize that homelessness, drug involvement, and sex work are interrelated aspects of the street economy.

Summary: This article describes ethnographic interviews with ten young, homeless men who have sex with men in New York City. It describes the "street capital" these men have accumulated as they have participated in the street economy as sex workers, and the "street competencies" these men have learned while surviving on the street. The article argues that these men began to accumulate "street capital" at an early age through experiences in various institutions, including their family, foster care, schools, hospitals, and jails. Combined with homelessness, different types of street capital combined with street competencies to result in street careers as sex workers participating in the street economy.

Topics: adolescent/high school; lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender; underserved populations

Moracco, K. E., Runyan, C. W., Bowling, J. M., & Earp, J. A. (2007). Women's experiences with violence: A national study. Women's Health Issues, 17, 3-12. [Posted February 2008]

Key Points: In a nationally representative sample of women, 60% reported experiencing some form of violence as adults; 10% had experienced violence in the previous year.

Summary: During 1997, telephone interviews were conducted with 1800 US women aged 18 years and over. Women were asked about stalking behaviors, physical assault, and sexual assault that they had experienced both during their adult lives and during the previous year. Data were weighted to account for demographic variations. Consistent with other national surveys such as the National Violence Against Women Survey, about one in six women reported having been sexually assaulted, and the perpetrator was three times more likely to be someone known to them than a stranger.  Racial/ethnic differences were also similar to other national findings, with Asian American and white women being less likely to experience violence than all other groups. Other risk factors for having experienced sexual violence included being less than 55 years old (young women aged 18-24 reported the most violence), living in a household that received public assistance, and being lesbian/bisexual.

Limitations: The sample was restricted to women living in households with telephones. Because the study was cross-sectional, the causal relationship of risk factors to types of violence experienced cannot be explored.

Topics: lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender; prevalence; racial/ethnic differences; risk

Rew, L., Whittaker, T., Taylor-Seehafer, M., & Smith, L. (2005). Sexual health risks and protective resources in gay, lesbian, bisexual, and heterosexual homeless youth. Journal for Specialists in Pediatric Nursing, 10, 11-19. [Posted August 2006]

Key Points: Services for homeless youth should be specific for both gender and sexual orientation.

Summary: This article compares the sexual health risks taken by homeless youth who identify as gay, lesbian, or bi-sexual to those taken by homeless youth who identify as heterosexual. Survey data collected from 425 homeless adolescents between 16 and 20 years of age were analyzed. More gay and lesbian youth reported sexual abuse, and being tested and treated for HIV than heterosexual youth. Gay and lesbian youth also scored lower on measures of assertive communication. Among gay, lesbian, and bi-sexual respondents, more males than females identified as homosexual and more females than males identified as bi-sexual.

Topics: adolescent/high school; lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender; underserved populations

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Updated 09/19/08