5 - (SYM 131) Internalized Stigma, Negative Affect, and Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration Among Sexual Minority Couples

Introduction: Internalized stigma is an identity-specific risk factor for use of intimate partner violence (IPV) among sexual minority couples, yet little is known about how it connects with general IPV risk factors such as negative emotions during communication. Negative affect may be one possible mechanism underlying associations between internalized stigma and IPV use, which may be especially heightened when discussing experiences of sexual orientation-related discrimination with a partner. The current study examined how one’s own and one’s partner’s internalized stigma and negative affect after lab-based stressor discussions is associated with one’s own physical, psychological, and identity-specific IPV use. 

Method: In an online study of 84 sexual minority couples in which at least one partner had experienced past 6-month discrimination, couples completed self-report measures of internalized stigma and past-year IPV use. Couples then engaged in two, 8-minute stressor discussions related to: 1) sexual orientation-based discrimination, and 2) life stress not related to sexual orientation. Current negative affect was measured after each discussion. Data were analyzed with Bayesian actor-partner interdependence mediation models.  

Results: Neither one’s own nor one’s partner’s internalized stigma was reliably related to physical IPV use. One’s own (b = 0.31, 95% CI [0.08, 0.54]) and one’s partner’s (b = 0.24, 95% CI [0.03, 0.48]) internalized stigma was related to one’s own psychological IPV use, which was indirectly accounted for by one’s own and one’s partner’s negative affect reported after the life stressor discussion (b = 0.04-0.05, 95% CI [0.002, 0.12] for both pathways). Indirect effects were no longer present when models accounted for coping during discussions. Finally, one’s partner’s (b = 0.57, 95% CI [0.16, 1.01]) but not one’s own levels of internalized stigma was related to one’s own identity-specific IPV use. This effect was indirectly accounted for by one’s partner’s negative affect reported after the discrimination stressor discussion (b = 0.13, 95% CI [0.01, 0.32]) and was present when models accounted for coping during discussions. 

Conclusions: Results highlight the importance of addressing internalized stigma to reduce psychological and identity-specific IPV use among couples. Further, results identified that a risk factor for identity-specific IPV use may be having a partner with higher internalized stigma who experiences greater negative emotions after discussions about discrimination experiences.