Disproportionately high: an exploration of intimate partner violence prevalence rates for bisexual people

ABSTRACT

In 2010, the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control conducted the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey. Their findings indicated that bisexual people, with some variance across gender identity, were more likely than any other sexual orientation to experience intimate partner violence (IPV). In keeping with these findings, this study conducted an exploratory analysis to explain these disparities, including the relationships between IPV and stereotypes about bisexuality and subscription to bi-negative attitudes, with a closer examination of relationship identity as monogamous or open; perceived infidelity in the relationship, given the prevalence of the stereotypes regarding promiscuity; and the complexity between the stereotype and the lived experience of polyamory or open relationships of many bisexual people. A convenience sample of bisexual people (n = 439) was solicited via Facebook groups and MTurk. Using path analyses, perpetrator bi-negativity and perceived or real infidelity were the variables most related to perpetration and victimization, especially if the perpetrator was male and both partners were bisexual. Future research should focus on both bi-negativity and infidelity, especially in the context of open/polyamorous relationships for some bisexual people, and the latter's relation to jealousy and anger as a contributing factor to IPV.

KEYWORDS:

• Bisexual
• intimate partner violence
• polyamory
• bi-negativity

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Susan C. Turell

Dr Susan C. Turell is provost and professor of psychology at Marywood University. She studies intimate partner violence and sexual assault/coercion in relation to LGBTQ communities.

Michael Brown

Dr Michael Brown is an associate professor in the Department of Psychology at SUNY Oneonta. He studies decision-making as it applies to issues of race, gender, sexuality, and the law.

Molly Herrmann

Molly Herrmann is a consultant on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) health. She brings over 15 years of experience as a trainer and specializes in LGBTQ health, intimate partner violence, HIV, and community readiness assessments.