Date of Award

Summer 2019

Document Type

Open Access Dissertation

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Suzanne C. Swan

Abstract

Prior research has found that sexual minorities (i.e., individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or who are attracted to or have had sexual experiences with members of the same sex) are at heightened risk for intimate partner violence (IPV) as compared to heterosexuals. Although understanding risk factors that place sexual minorities at risk is a crucial step in the prevention of IPV in this population, little is known about such factors. Some have proposed that internalized homonegativity, a component of minority stress, may place individuals at heightened risk for IPV perpetration. Internalized homonegativity is also associated with greater alcohol use and abuse, which is a known IPV risk factor. However, inferences about the association between internalized homonegativity and IPV perpetration are hindered by the methodological limitations of research in this area, the use of measures with unknown psychometric properties, and recruitment of participants from sexual minority-related venues and events. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relations between alcohol use, internalized homonegativity, and the perpetration of physical, psychological and sexual IPV within sexual minority men by employing a methodological approach that addresses limitations of previous research. Overall, results suggest that internalized homonegativity is significantly associated with both alcohol use and IPV perpetration and that it moderates the effect of alcohol use on IPV perpetration.

Rights

© 2019, Andrew Thomas Schramm

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