Objective: This authors provide an overview and critical analysis of research on intimate partner violence (IPV) among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) persons and discuss recommendations for future research on the topic. Method: Ninety-six empirical articles published from 1999 to the present, examining IPV among samples of LGB persons, were reviewed. Results: Research documents that rates of IPV among LGB individuals are equal to or greater than rates observed among heterosexual individuals. A number of risk factors for IPV victimization and perpetration among LGB individuals have also been identified; these risk factors are similar to those documented among heterosexual individuals and also include minority stress risk factors (e.g., internalized homonegativity), which may help explain increased rates of IPV among sexual minorities. A substantial research literature also documents disclosure, help-seeking, leaving, and recovery processes among LGB victims of IPV, indicating a number of similarities to heterosexual victims of IPV, as well as differences, which too can be understood through a minority stress framework. Conclusion: We identified a number of important future research strategies within the domains of measurement, participants/sampling, study methodology, and IPV co-occurrence with other forms of violence. We also discussed the importance of addressing minority stress in IPV prevention efforts for LGB individuals, and improving LGB IPV service availability and provider sensitivity.
Anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric disorders in the general population of the United States. Recent findings indicate that the prevalence of certain anxiety disorders may be higher in African Americans. In addition, anxiety disorders in African Americans may be manifested differently. Despite the high prevalence and the suggestion of different patterns of manifestation, a paucity of research exists on anxiety disorders in this population. This may be due in part to the pattern of help-seeking behavior among African Americans, a negative perception of research by members of this community, the small number of African American researchers, and perhaps to some extent a general disinterest on the part of researchers. The available research on anxiety disorders in African Americans is critically reviewed, the need for research in the area is highlighted, and ways to facilitate such research are discussed.
Perceived partner responsiveness, or trust in partners' care, positive regard, and commitment, is widely believed to be an important determinant of relationship quality. This trust may be based, in part, on memory of partners' prior behaviors, which may be biased. The current research provided support for the prediction that memories of partners' prior responsiveness are biased by perceivers' desires to bond with partners. A dyadic daily report study (Study 1) and a dyadic longitudinal study with a behavioral observation component (Study 2) suggested that perceivers' valuing of partners biased their memories of partners' behavior independently of perceivers' initial encoding, partners' sentiments, and partners' behavior. This bias was not explained by other potential sources of bias, including relationship satisfaction, attachment dimensions, trait self-esteem, and consistency effects. Results also suggested that responsiveness memories reduce emotional reactivity in response to current perceptions of partners' lack of responsiveness (Study 1) and contribute to global feelings of trust (Study 2). These results indicate that perceivers' memories of partners' prior responsiveness are shaped by their own desires to bond with partners and that biased responsiveness memories contribute to current trust and therefore have interpersonal significance.
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