2 - (SYM 131) Gender Minority Stress, Partner Affirmation, and Intimate Partner Violence Victimization Among Transgender and Nonbinary Intimate Relationships

Background. Transgender and nonbinary (TNB) people experience high rates of intimate partner violence (IPV; Brown & Herman 2015; James et al., 2016). Although sexual minority stress is associated with increased IPV risk among sexual minority persons, the role of gender minority stress (GMS)—referring to chronic forms of stress and marginalization experienced by TNB people—has yet to be fully examined as a correlate of recent IPV victimization. Further, no research has assessed the potentially protective factor of partner affirmation, defined as how accepting TNB individuals perceive their romantic partners to be of their gender identity. The current study evaluated how GMS and a novel measure of partner affirmation correlate with IPV victimization in the last year. Method. 256 TNB adults in intimate relationships of at least 6 months completed measures of GMS, psychological and physical IPV, and a novel Partner Affirmation Scale (α = .92). Among this sample, 28% identified as trans women/transfeminine, 32% identified as nonbinary/gender fluid, and 34% identified as trans men/transmasculine (M Age = 36; 41% People of Color). We used logistic regression models to assess how three GMS subscales (TNB victimization, internalized stigma, and nondisclosure) and partner affirmation were associated with the presence of psychological and physical aggression in the last year, controlling for demographic variables. Results. When all three minority stress subscales were included together, more internalized stigma was significantly associated with psychological (OR = 1.41; p = .031) and physical aggression (OR = 1.78; p = .032), the other subscales showed no significant associations. In a separate model, more partner affirmation was associated with less psychological (OR = .54; p = .001) and physical aggression (OR = .54; p = .005). When partner affirmation and GMS subscales were included together, partner affirmation remained significantly associated with psychological (OR = .56; p =.003) and physical aggression (OR = .57; p = .013) while internalized stigma dropped to non-significance. 

Conclusion:  Results provide novel evidence that internalized stigma is significantly correlated with TNB IPV experiences in the last year. However, because internalized stigma was no longer associated with IPV when accounting for partner affirmation, these findings may indicate that the level of perceived affirmation by one’s partner may be more salient. Results have implications for assessment, prevention, and treatment of IPV among TNB individuals.