Prevalence of partner violence in same-sex romantic and sexual relationships in a national sample of adolescents

Citation

Halpern, C. T.; Young, M. L.; Waller, M.; Martin, S. L.; & Kupper, L. (2004). Prevalence of partner violence in same-sex romantic and sexual relationships in a national sample of adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health. vol. 35 (2) pp. 124-131

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To present the first national prevalence estimates of psychological and physical intimate partner violence between adolescents in same-sex relationships.
METHODS:

Analyses focus on 117 adolescents aged 12-21 years (50% female) from Wave II of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health who reported exclusively same-sex romantic or sexual relationships in the 18 months before interview. Items from the Conflict Tactics Scale were used to measure partner violence victimization. Data analysis included computation of prevalence estimates and a logistic regression analysis to assess associations between sociodemographic characteristics and violence victimization.
RESULTS:

Almost one-quarter of adolescents with same-sex romantic or sexual partners reported some type of partner violence victimization; about 1 in 10 reported physical victimization. Significant sex differences were found (OR = .29, CI = 0.08, 1.00), with males being less likely than females to report "any violence." Of six other sociodemographic characteristics examined, importance of religion (OR = .27, CI = 0.07-1.07) and school size (OR = .32, CI = 0.09-1.11) were associated with victimization at the p < .10 level. Adolescents who reported that religion was important to them and adolescents who attended larger schools were at lower risk of "any violence."
CONCLUSIONS:

As with opposite-sex relationships, psychological and minor physical violence victimization is common among adolescents involved in same-sex intimate relationships. Males reporting exclusively same-sex relationships were less likely than females to report experiencing the violence behaviors examined.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2003.09.003

Keyword(s)

Partner Violence

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

Journal of Adolescent Health

Author(s)

Halpern, C. T.
Young, M. L.
Waller, M.
Martin, S. L.
Kupper, L.

Year Published

2004

Volume Number

35

Issue Number

2

Pages

124-131

ISSN/ISBN

1054-139X

DOI

10.1016/j.jadohealth.2003.09.003

Reference ID

319

CONCLUSIONS:

As with opposite-sex relationships, psychological and minor physical violence victimization is common among adolescents involved in same-sex intimate relationships. Males reporting exclusively same-sex relationships were less likely than females to report experiencing the violence behaviors examined. ID - 319 J2 - Journal of Adolescent Health SN - 1054-139X T1 - Prevalence of partner violence in same-sex romantic and sexual relationships in a national sample of adolescents VL - 35 PY - 2004 IS - 2 SP - 124 EP - 131 ER - ">