Is stigma preventing reportage of domestic violence between same sex couples?

[HereSince1628]

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/09/140919140856.htm

Domestic violence occurs at least as frequently, and likely even more so, between same-sex couples compared to opposite-sex couples, according to a review of literature by Northwestern Medicine® scientists.

Previous studies, when analyzed together, indicate that domestic violence affects 25 percent to 75 percent of lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals. However, a lack of representative data and underreporting of abuse paints an incomplete picture of the true landscape, suggesting even higher rates. An estimated one in four heterosexual women experience domestic abuse, with rates significantly lower for heterosexual men.

"Evidence suggests that the minority stress model may explain these high prevalence rates," said senior author Richard Carroll, associate professor in psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a psychologist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. "Domestic violence is exacerbated because same-sex couples are dealing with the additional stress of being a sexual minority. This leads to reluctance to address domestic violence issues."

The review was published Sept. 4 in the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy. The first author is Colleen Stiles-Shields, a student in the clinical psychology Ph.D. program at Feinberg.

[kickysnana]

1. Calling the police lately can be hazardous to your health.

The younger generations tell me we don't report, complain etc anymore. Dr Phil too. Plus You don't go into a relationship looking to hit defcon 5 even when things get rough. This is not happening to us, maybe it was my fault, maybe it is a one time thing, or it is getting better overall.

Not saying that that these are the "right reasons", just some of the reasons why any couple slides down the slippery slope.

[HereSince1628]

2. Yes, I wouldn't challenge the truth of that

although I don't understand the Dr Phil reference. In some ways, the report suggest merely that same-sex couples are 'just people', too, with respect to being subjected to pressure to be silent.

The perceived role of stigma influencing help-seeking and consequently data that becomes 'the formal record' is what I found interesting. Suffering in silence for not wanting to be forced "out of the closet", as well as the need to conform to the prevailing group image, are both proposed as reasons for under-reporting of violence among same-sex couples. Interestingly, it's a behavior that apparently has a sex-bias that's similar to sex bias in healthcare seeking in the population at large.

At any rate, under-reporting is suggested to be a behavior influenced, at least in part, by perception of potential hostile reaction to being labelled/stigmatized. That is to say, it is behavior influenced by cognition and emotion. You don't have to be dx'd with a mental disorder to be influenced by stigma, and stigma is real, not a phantom issue in the psychiatric industry.

Maybe, if the problematic role of stigma is understood across groups better accepted than persons with mental disorders there can be broader sensitivity to stigma in general, and a greater interest in snuffing it out. Even on DU.

Maybe not.