(PS6-28) Internalized Stigma and IPV Perpetration in Sexual and Gender Minoritized Couples: A Dyadic Analysis

Abstract Text: Internalized stigma has long been recognized as a critical driver of adverse health outcomes, particularly among individuals with sexual, gender, and/or racial minoritized identities. Literature reviews indicate that these disparities in sexual and gender minorized (SGM) individuals include heightened risk for intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration (Porsch et al., 2023; Trombetta & Rollè, 2023), with lifetime prevalence rates ranging from 33-50% (Breiding et al., 2013). However, a critical weakness in this literature is the lack of research focused on the internalization of both sexual and racial stigma. Indeed, relatively few studies have jointly examined the effects of internalized sexual and racial stigma on IPV perpetration. Moreover, no studies to date have examined the intersection of internalized sexual and racial stigma within a dyadic framework, which is the most rigorous method for modeling the interpersonal nature of violence within an intimate relationship. The present study aimed to address these gaps by using an Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM) framework to investigate the independent and interactive effects of actor and partner internalized sexual and racial stigma on IPV perpetration. Participants were 1,273 self-identified sexual and/or gender minoritized individuals in 789 same-sex couples (57% assigned female sex at birth) recruited nationally via online advertisements. Participants completed validated measures of internalized sexual stigma, internalized racial stigma, and IPV perpetration (physical, sexual, and psychological) during the past year. Multi-level negative binomial regression models were computed separately for each form of IPV perpetration within an APIM framework. For sexual IPV perpetration, results indicated significant main effects of Actor internalized racial stigma (b = 1.10, p = .023) and Actor internalized sexual stigma (b = .18, p = .013). For physical IPV perpetration, a significant Actor internalized racial stigma × Actor internalized sexual stigma interaction was detected (b = .21, p = .028), such that the positive association between internalized sexual stigma and physical IPV perpetration was significantly more positive at higher (b = .0.13, p = 0.05), relative to lower (b = -0.08, p = 0.37), levels of internalized racial stigma. For psychological IPV perpetration, main and interactive effects were not detected. The present study is among the first to investigate the effects of internalized sexual and racial stigma on multiple forms of IPV perpetration within a dyadic framework. These findings suggest that intersectional stigma—encompassing both racial and sexual domains—contributes to IPV perpetration risk in SGM relationships. In particular, the internalization of both sexual and racial stigma was associated with the highest levels of physical IPV perpetration. Collectively, these findings underscore the importance of culturally informed prevention programs that address multiple forms of internalized stigma. By integrating strategies aimed at reducing the intersectional impact of multiple stigmas, interventions stand to mitigate harmful relationship dynamics and reduce the prevalence of IPV in marginalized communities.