Intimate Partner Violence in same-sex couples: a preliminary analysis

Introduction: Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is any behavior within a couple that involves behaviors of physical, sexual, emotional and/or psychological abuse, and controlling behavior. Despite the efforts made so far, there is a lack of study on IPV in same-sex couple. Our aim is to fill this gap in literature and try to better understand LGB couples functioning. Method: An online-based survey was administered to 40 Italian same-sex couples (n=80) aged from 18 and 58 years (M=28.01; SD=7.41). Correlation analysis has been conducted to evaluate the association between IPV and other individual and dyadic variables. Paired-samples T-test and ANOVA has been used for our preliminary investigation. Results: ANOVA analysis showed no differences in total IPV perpetration between male and female same-sex couples. Paired-samples T-test results showed significant differences between partner only in perpetration of psychological IPV, t(39)=-2.683; p<.05. Correlation analysis showed a negative significant correlation between couple satisfaction with physical and psychological IPV (respectively r=-.271, p=<.01 and r=-.461, p=<.001) and a positive significant correlation between economic control towards the partner with physical and psychological IPV (respectively r=.184, p=<.05 and r=.332, p=<.001). Moreover, sexual coercion showed a significative positive correlation with malevolent sexism towards female (r=.204; p=<.05). Conclusions: Preliminary analysis of our study confirmed that IPV is correlated to some individuals and dyadic variables, and that it can influence other form of violence, such as control of the partner. It seems that partners have the perception to perpetrate different amount of psychological violence, but not for what concern physical IPV, sexual coercion and partner's injuries resulting from fights.