Sexual assault revictimization among sexual minority individuals: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract

Objective: Sexual minority people are at risk for sexual violence across the life span, but a comprehensive review of revictimization has not been conducted. The aim of the present study was to conduct a meta-analysis on the prevalence of adult sexual assault revictimization among sexual minority survivors of childhood sexual abuse, as well as to review risk factors and outcomes of revictimization. Method: Articles were downloaded from APA PsycInfo, PubMed, and Open Access Theses and Dissertations. Once duplicates were removed, 864 abstracts and titles were reviewed. Articles were included if they presented prevalence data on revictimization experiences for sexual minorities. Of the 864 abstracts and titles reviewed, 17 were included in our meta-analysis (k = 17, n = 26,280, n sexual minority = 12,220). Of these 17, 13 studies presenting data specifically on revictimization risk factors, consequences, and information on perpetrators were included for a qualitative review. Results: Rates of revictimization among sexual minority individuals were high, with a meta-analysis finding a pooled rate of 49.4% (95% Confidence Interval [.396, .593]). Risk factors for revictimization included alcohol use severity and experiences with prejudice. Revictimized people were at increased risk for posttraumatic stress disorder, problematic alcohol use, and substance use. Conclusion: Sexual assault revictimization was prevalent among sexual minority individuals, and greater attention to sexual minority populations is necessary for implementing sexual violence resources and sexual violence prevention efforts.

Preventing sexual violence in sexual orientation and gender diverse communities: A call to action

“…For example, a study conducted among a sample of 75,192 college students within the United States indicated that, when compared to their cisgender peers, both transgender men and transgender women who were college students had significantly higher odds of experiencing past-year alcohol-related sexual assault (Coulter et al, 2015 ). SOGD are also at elevated for general vulnerability factors associated with sexual assault victimization compared to their cisgender, heterosexual counterparts, including, internalizing psychopathology (Tyler, 2008 ), and prior history of childhood sexual abuse (Blackburn et al, 2023 ). In addition to these general vulnerability factors, group-specific factors (that only impact SOGD and not their cisgender-heterosexual counterparts) such as internalized homophobia (Hequembourg et al, 2015 ; Murchison et al, 2017 ), identity concealment (Watson et al, 2021 ), are all associated with increased risk for experiencing sexual assault among SOGD individuals.…”

“…Survivors of sexual violence face an array of deleterious mental health, physical health, and economic outcomes (Black et al, 2020 ; Dworkin et al, 2017 ; Smith et al, 2018 ). Sexual orientation and gender diverse people (SOGD) – defined as individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or another sexual identity or gender expansive identity and individuals who engage in sexual behaviours with people of the same gender/sex – experience high rates of sexual violence across the lifespan (Blackburn et al, 2023 ; Garthe et al, 2021 ; Rothman et al, 2011 ), with transgender and gender diverse people at potentially higher risk for victimization (Langenderfer-Magruder et al, 2016 ). Despite the increased vulnerability for sexual violence, relatively few effective strategies exist to prevent sexual violence perpetrated against SOGD people.…”

Assessment of Sexual Violence Risk Perception in Men Who Have Sex With Men: Proposal for the Development and Validation of “G-Date” (Preprint)

“…32 In fact, minority stress is consistently associated with a variety of syndemic conditions, such as alcohol and other drug use 33,34 and SV or IPV. 14,22 Highlighting the role of psychosocial factors, MSM often report acquiescing to sexually coercive tactics because of low levels of self-worth or guilt related to sexual orientation; 35 in turn, that self-blame increases the potential for revictimization. 36…”

Assessment of Sexual Violence Risk Perception in Men Who Have Sex With Men: Proposal for the Development and Validation of “G-Date”

“…Further, intimate partner violence (IPV), which often includes or is associated with SV [10,11] is also highly prevalent among MSM with victimization rates upwards of 33% [12]. Finally, alcohol use by the victim, perpetrator, or both is a common risk factor noted across studies [13].…”

“…Likely a common basis for many psychosocial syndemic conditions in MSM [23], minority stress theory posits that the expectations for, experiences of, and internalization of discrimination and prejudice contribute to health disparities and outcomes [23][24][25][26] including SV [27,28]. In fact, minority stress is consistently associated with a variety of syndemic conditions, such as alcohol and other drug use [29,30] and SV or IPV [13,18]. Taken together, these theories suggest that a variety of constructs might be associated with SV risk; thus, these factors will be used as mechanisms to validate the proposed laboratory paradigm.…”