Sexual and Relationship Violence Among LGBTQ+ College Students: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Although there has been increased attention to campus sexual and relationship violence (SRV) because of Title IX and the #MeToo movement, much of that attention has focused on victimization of cisgender heterosexual women. This scoping review uncovers information from empirical studies on what is known about LGBTQ+ (e.g., lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and nonbinary) students’ experiences of campus SRV. Using rigorous scoping review methods (i.e., searches of 15 databases, searches of expert websites, hand searching, reference harvesting, and forward citation chaining), we identified 60 documents published since 2000 that contained findings from empirical studies related to LGBTQ+ students and SRV on U.S. college and university campuses. Through content analysis, we summarized findings around five key themes: (1) extent and types of victimization, (2) negative outcomes, (3) knowledge of and attitudes about SRV, (4) perspectives on SRV services and prevention education programs, and (5) recommendations from study authors based on their findings. Implications for research, practice, and policy based on these findings are discussed.

Gender-based violence among healthcare students: prevalence, description and associated factors

“…Most studies focus on medical students and not on all health students; therefore, our study provides new knowledge that nursing and physiotherapy students are the most at risk for GBV. We found also that being LGBTQ+ increases the risk of experiencing GBV [29] . As expected, the risk of GBV increases with the number of years of study [26].…”

LGBTQ+-Affirming Campus Sexual and Relationship Violence Prevention: A Qualitative Study

“…This conceptualization of gender “meant [transgender and nonbinary] people were overlooked at best, and dismissed at worst” (Marine & Nicolazzo, 2020, p. 5020). Despite calls for more LGBTQ+-affirming and -specific programing (Eisenberg et al, 2021; Klein et al, 2022; Marine & Nicolazzo, 2020; Potter et al, 2012), evaluations of such programs do not currently appear in the literature (Klein et al, 2022). In addition, both published research and key guidance documents for SRV prevention educators and administrators advocate for tailoring prevention efforts to meet the needs of minoritized communities including LGBTQ+ students but there is limited guidance on how to do so (American College Health Association, 2020; Campus Technical Assistance and Resource Project, 2016; DeGue et al, 2014; Dills et al, 2016).…”

“…Studies have also shown that RV victimization rates are likely similar to or higher for LGBTQ+ students compared to cisgender heterosexual students (Cantor et al, 2020; DeKeseredy et al, 2019; Graham et al, 2019; Klein et al, 2022). LGBTQ+ student survivors may suffer profoundly negative behavioral, emotional, academic, economic, and health outcomes that are exacerbated due to minority stress (Edwards & Sylaska, 2013; Klein et al, 2022; Mennicke et al, 2020; Meyer, 2003).…”

“…Markedly, one in four cisgender 1 heterosexual women will be sexually assaulted in college (Fedina et al, 2018). Also alarming, LGBTQ+ 2 people are at an even greater risk of victimization: approximately two in five cisgender bisexual women report experiencing SV, and about half of transgender and nonbinary people report experiencing SV (Cantor et al, 2020; Griner et al, 2017; Klein et al, 2022; Rothman et al, 2011; Walters et al, 2013). Studies have also shown that RV victimization rates are likely similar to or higher for LGBTQ+ students compared to cisgender heterosexual students (Cantor et al, 2020; DeKeseredy et al, 2019; Graham et al, 2019; Klein et al, 2022).…”

“…Also alarming, LGBTQ+ 2 people are at an even greater risk of victimization: approximately two in five cisgender bisexual women report experiencing SV, and about half of transgender and nonbinary people report experiencing SV (Cantor et al, 2020; Griner et al, 2017; Klein et al, 2022; Rothman et al, 2011; Walters et al, 2013). Studies have also shown that RV victimization rates are likely similar to or higher for LGBTQ+ students compared to cisgender heterosexual students (Cantor et al, 2020; DeKeseredy et al, 2019; Graham et al, 2019; Klein et al, 2022). LGBTQ+ student survivors may suffer profoundly negative behavioral, emotional, academic, economic, and health outcomes that are exacerbated due to minority stress (Edwards & Sylaska, 2013; Klein et al, 2022; Mennicke et al, 2020; Meyer, 2003).…”