A Longitudinal Investigation of Intimate Partner Violence Victimization and Mental Health among Sexual and Gender Minorities Assigned Female at Birth.

Abstract

Sexual and gender minority people assigned female at birth (SGM-AFAB) experience disproportionately high rates of intimate partner violence victimization (IPVV), raising concerns about effects on their mental health. However, research on the psychological effects of IPVV among SGM people is sparse, primarily cross-sectional, and narrow in its assessment of IPVV and mental health. We aimed to extend this literature by using multiwave longitudinal data to assess the effects of multiple forms of IPVV on SGM-AFAB mental health. A racially diverse sample of 488 SGM-AFAB individuals (age 16-32 at baseline) completed 7 waves of data across 3.5 years, reporting at each wave on psychological, physical, sexual, coercive control, and SGM-specific IPVV and polyvictimization (i.e., experiencing multiple types of IPVV), as well as depressive and anxiety symptoms, problematic alcohol and cannabis use, suicide contemplation and attempts, and self-harm. Using multilevel models, we estimated the within- and between-person associations between each type of IPVV and each mental health outcome. Results revealed the most robust effects of IPVV on depressive and anxiety symptoms, which were associated with almost all IPVV types at both the between- and within-person levels. Psychological, physical, and sexual IPVV and polyvictimization also showed both within- and between-person associations with self-harm behaviors. Most IPVV types showed between-person associations with consideration of suicide and suicide attempts. Though less consistent across IPVV type and level of analysis (within- vs. between), IPVV was also associated with problematic substance use. Together, findings indicate clear negative effects of IPVV on the mental health of SGM-AFAB individuals, underscoring the need for policy and interventions aimed at preventing IPVV and supporting IPVV survivors in this vulnerable population.