Abstract
Purpose of review
This scoping review of reviews aimed to detail the breadth of violence research about sexual and gender minorities (SGMs) in terms of the three generations of health disparities research (i.e., documenting, understanding, and reducing disparities).
Recent Findings
Seventy-three reviews met inclusion criteria. Nearly 70% of the reviews for interpersonal violence and for self-directed violence were classified as first-generation studies. Critical third-generation studies were considerably scant (7% for interpersonal violence and 6% for self-directed violence).
Summary
Third-generation research to reduce or prevent violence against SGM populations must account for larger scale social environmental dynamics. Sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data collection has increased in population-based health surveys, but administrative datasets (e.g., health care, social services, coroner and medical examiner offices, law enforcement) must begin including SOGI to meet the needs of scaled public health interventions to curb violence among SGM communities.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Peterson C, Miller GF, Barnett SBL, Florence C. Economic cost of injury: United States, 2019. Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2021;70(48):1655–9.
Alexander R, Parker K, Schwetz T. Sexual and gender minority health research at the National Institutes of Health. LGBT health. 2016;3(1):7–10.
Herek GM. The context of anti-gay violence: notes on cultural and psychological heterosexism. J Interpers Violence. 1990;5(3):316–33.
Miller B, Humphreys L. Lifestyles and violence: homosexual victims of assault and murder. Qual Sociol. 1980;3(3):169–85.
Bender AK, Lauritsen JL. Violent victimization among lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations in the United States: findings from the National Crime Victimization Survey, 2017–2018. Am J Public Health. 2021;111(2):318–26.
Remafedi G. Sexual orientation and youth suicide. JAMA. 1999;282(13):1291–2.
Ramchand R, Schuler MS, Schoenbaum M, Colpe L, Ayer L. Suicidality among sexual minority adults: gender, age, and race/ethnicity differences. Am J Prev Med. 2022;62(2):193–202.
Johns MM, Lowry R, Haderxhanaj LT, Rasberry CN, Robin L, Scales L, et al. Trends in violence victimization and suicide risk by sexual identity among high school students—Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2015–2019. MMWR supplements. 2020;69(1):19.
Sell RL, Holliday ML. Sexual orientation data collection policy in the United States: public health malpractice. American Public Health Association; 2014;p. 967–9.
Kilbourne AM, Switzer G, Hyman K, Crowley-Matoka M, Fine MJ. Advancing health disparities research within the health care system: a conceptual framework. Am J Public Health. 2006;96(12):2113–21.
Munn Z, Peters MD, Stern C, Tufanaru C, McArthur A, Aromataris E. Systematic review or scoping review? Guidance for authors when choosing between a systematic or scoping review approach. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2018;18(1):1–7.
Coulter RW, Egan JE, Kinsky S, Friedman MR, Eckstrand KL, Frankeberger J, et al. Mental health, drug, and violence interventions for sexual/gender minorities: a systematic review. Pediatrics. 2019;144:3.
Batejan KL, Jarvi SM, Swenson LP. Sexual orientation and non-suicidal self-injury: a meta-analytic review. Arch Suicide Res. 2015;19(2):131–50.
Dunlop BJ, Hartley S, Oladokun O, Taylor PJ. Bisexuality and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI): a narrative synthesis of associated variables and a meta-analysis of risk. J Affect Disord. 2020;276:1159–72.
Jackman K, Honig J, Bockting W. Nonsuicidal self-injury among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender populations: an integrative review. J Clin Nurs. 2016;25(23–24):3438–53.
Liu RT, Sheehan AE, Walsh RF, Sanzari CM, Cheek SM, Hernandez EM. Prevalence and correlates of non-suicidal self-injury among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Psychol Rev. 2019;74:101783.
Di Giacomo E, Krausz M, Colmegna F, Aspesi F, Clerici M. Estimating the risk of attempted suicide among sexual minority youths: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Pediatr. 2018;172(12):1145–52.
Hottes TS, Bogaert L, Rhodes AE, Brennan DJ, Gesink D. Lifetime prevalence of suicide attempts among sexual minority adults by study sampling strategies: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Public Health. 2016;106(5):e1–12.
Salway T, Ross LE, Fehr CP, Burley J, Asadi S, Hawkins B, et al. A systematic review and meta-analysis of disparities in the prevalence of suicide ideation and attempt among bisexual populations. Arch Sex Behav. 2019;48(1):89–111.
Luo Z, Feng T, Fu H, Yang T. Lifetime prevalence of suicidal ideation among men who have sex with men: a meta-analysis. BMC Psychiatry. 2017;17(1):1–9.
Adams NJ, Vincent B. Suicidal thoughts and behaviors among transgender adults in relation to education, ethnicity, and income: a systematic review. Transgender health. 2019;4(1):226–46.
Mann EG, Taylor A, Wren B, de Graaf N. Review of the literature on self-injurious thoughts and behaviours in gender-diverse children and young people in the United Kingdom. Clin Child Psychol Psychiatr. 2019;24(2):304–21.
Salway T, Plöderl M, Liu J, Gustafson P. Effects of multiple forms of information bias on estimated prevalence of suicide attempts according to sexual orientation: an application of a Bayesian misclassification correction method to data from a systematic review. Am J Epidemiol. 2019;188(1):239–49.
Surace T, Fusar-Poli L, Vozza L, Cavone V, Arcidiacono C, Mammano R, et al. Lifetime prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicidal behaviors in gender non-conforming youths: a meta-analysis. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2021;30(8):1147–61.
Gorse M. Risk and protective factors to LGBTQ+ youth suicide: a review of the literature. Child Adolescent Social Work J. 2020 ;1–12.
Gosling H, Pratt D, Montgomery H, Lea J. The relationship between minority stress factors and suicidal ideation and behaviours amongst transgender and gender non-conforming adults: a systematic review. J affective disorders. 2021
Hatchel T, Polanin JR, Espelage DL. Suicidal thoughts and behaviors among LGBTQ youth: meta-analyses and a systematic review. Arch Suicide Res. 2021;25(1):1–37.
Kaniuka AR, Bowling J. Suicidal self-directed violence among gender minority individuals: a systematic review. Suicide Life-Threatening Behavior. 2021;51(2):212–9.
Pellicane MJ, Ciesla JA. Associations between minority stress, depression, and suicidal ideation and attempts in transgender and gender diverse (TGD) individuals: systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical psychology review. 2021;102113.
Williams AJ, Jones C, Arcelus J, Townsend E, Lazaridou A, Michail M. A systematic review and meta-analysis of victimisation and mental health prevalence among LGBTQ+ young people with experiences of self-harm and suicide. PLoS ONE. 2021;16(1):e0245268.
Wolford-Clevenger C, Frantell K, Smith PN, Flores LY, Stuart GL. Correlates of suicide ideation and behaviors among transgender people: a systematic review guided by ideation-to-action theory. Clin Psychol Rev. 2018;63:93–105.
Luong CT, Rew L, Banner M. Suicidality in young men who have sex with men: a systematic review of the literature. Issues Ment Health Nurs. 2018;39(1):37–45.
Matarazzo BB, Barnes SM, Pease JL, Russell LM, Hanson JE, Soberay KA, et al. Suicide risk among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender military personnel and veterans: what does the literature tell us? Suicide Life-Threatening Behavior. 2014;44(2):200–17.
McNeil J, Ellis SJ, Eccles FJ. Suicide in trans populations: a systematic review of prevalence and correlates. Psychol Sex Orientat Gend Divers. 2017;4(3):341.
Phillip A, Pellechi A, DeSilva R, Semler K, Makani R. A plausible explanation of increased suicidal behaviors among transgender youth based on the interpersonal theory of suicide (IPTS): case series and literature review. J Psychiatr Pract®. 2022;28(1):3–13.
Pompili M, Lester D, Forte A, Seretti ME, Erbuto D, Lamis DA, et al. Bisexuality and suicide: a systematic review of the current literature. J Sex Med. 2014;11(8):1903–13.
Rogers ML, Taliaferro LA. Self-injurious thoughts and behaviors among sexual and gender minority youth: a systematic review of recent research. Current Sexual Health Rep. 2020;1–16.
Russon J, Washington R, Machado A, Smithee L, Dellinger J. Suicide among LGBTQIA+ youth: a review of the treatment literature. Aggression and Violent Behavior. 2021;101578.
Marshall E, Claes L, Bouman WP, Witcomb GL, Arcelus J. Non-suicidal self-injury and suicidality in trans people: a systematic review of the literature. Int Rev Psychiatry. 2016;28(1):58–69.
Vigny-Pau M, Pang N, Alkhenaini H, Abramovich A. Suicidality and non-suicidal self-injury among transgender populations: a systematic review. J Gay Lesbian Mental Health. 2021;25(4):358–82.
King M, Semlyen J, Tai SS, Killaspy H, Osborn D, Popelyuk D, et al. A systematic review of mental disorder, suicide, and deliberate self harm in lesbian, gay and bisexual people. BMC Psychiatry. 2008;8(1):1–17.
Marshal MP, Dietz LJ, Friedman MS, Stall R, Smith HA, McGinley J, et al. Suicidality and depression disparities between sexual minority and heterosexual youth: a meta-analytic review. J Adolesc Health. 2011;49(2):115–23.
Miranda-Mendizábal A, Castellví P, Parés-Badell O, Almenara J, Alonso I, Blasco M, et al. Sexual orientation and suicidal behaviour in adolescents and young adults: systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Psychiatry. 2017;211(2):77–87.
Badenes-Ribera L, Frias-Navarro D, Bonilla-Campos A, Pons-Salvador G, Monterde-i-Bort H. Intimate partner violence in self-identified lesbians: a meta-analysis of its prevalence. Sexuality Res Social Policy. 2015;12(1):47–59.
Badenes-Ribera L, Bonilla-Campos A, Frias-Navarro D, Pons-Salvador G, Monterde-i-Bort H. Intimate partner violence in self-identified lesbians: a systematic review of its prevalence and correlates. Trauma Violence Abuse. 2016;17(3):284–97.
Badenes-Ribera L, Sanchez-Meca J, Longobardi C. The relationship between internalized homophobia and intimate partner violence in same-sex relationships: a meta-analysis. Trauma Violence Abuse. 2019;20(3):331–43.
Alessi EJ, Cheung S, Kahn S, Yu M. A scoping review of the experiences of violence and abuse among sexual and gender minority migrants across the migration trajectory. Trauma Violence Abuse. 2021;22(5):1339–55.
Bermea AM, van Eeden-Moorefield B, Khaw L. A systematic review of research on intimate partner violence among bisexual women. Journal of Bisexuality. 2018;18(4):399–424.
Blondeel K, De Vasconcelos S, García-Moreno C, Stephenson R, Temmerman M, Toskin I. Violence motivated by perception of sexual orientation and gender identity: a systematic review. Bull World Health Organ. 2018;96(1):29.
Buller AM, Devries KM, Howard LM, Bacchus LJ. Associations between intimate partner violence and health among men who have sex with men: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS Med. 2014;11(3):e1001609.
Burke LK, Follingstad DR. Violence in lesbian and gay relationships: theory, prevalence, and correlational factors. Clin Psychol Rev. 1999;19(5):487–512.
Callan A, Corbally M, McElvaney R. A scoping review of intimate partner violence as it relates to the experiences of gay and bisexual men. Trauma Violence Abuse. 2021;22(2):233–48.
Collier KL, Van Beusekom G, Bos HM, Sandfort TG. Sexual orientation and gender identity/expression related peer victimization in adolescence: a systematic review of associated psychosocial and health outcomes. J Sex Res. 2013;50(3–4):299–317.
Dame J, Oliffe JL, Hill N, Carrier L, Evans-Amalu K. Sexual violence among men who have sex with men and two-spirit peoples: a scoping review. Can J Hum Sex. 2020;29(2):240–8.
Decker M, Littleton HL, Edwards KM. An updated review of the literature on LGBTQ+ intimate partner violence. Curr Sex Health Rep. 2018;10(4):265–72.
Edwards KM, Sylaska KM, Neal AM. Intimate partner violence among sexual minority populations: a critical review of the literature and agenda for future research. Psychol Violence. 2015;5(2):112.
Fedewa AL, Ahn S. The effects of bullying and peer victimization on sexual-minority and heterosexual youths: a quantitative meta-analysis of the literature. J GLBT Fam Stud. 2011;7(4):398–418.
Feijóo S, Rodríguez-Fernández R. A meta-analytical review of gender-based school bullying in Spain. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(23):12687.
Finneran C, Stephenson R. Intimate partner violence among men who have sex with men: a systematic review. Trauma Violence Abuse. 2013;14(2):168–85.
Friedman MS, Marshal MP, Guadamuz TE, Wei C, Wong CF, Saewyc EM, et al. A meta-analysis of disparities in childhood sexual abuse, parental physical abuse, and peer victimization among sexual minority and sexual nonminority individuals. Am J Public Health. 2011;101(8):1481–94.
Jeffries S, Ball M. Male same-sex intimate partner violence: a descriptive review and call for further research. eLaw J: Murdoch University Electronic J Law. 2008;15(1):134–79.
Katz-Wise SL, Hyde JS. Victimization experiences of lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals: a meta-analysis. J Sex Res. 2012;49(2–3):142–67.
Kimmes JG, Mallory AB, Spencer C, Beck AR, Cafferky B, Stith SM. A meta-analysis of risk markers for intimate partner violence in same-sex relationships. Trauma Violence Abuse. 2019;20(3):374–84.
Kirk-Provencher KT, Spillane NS, Schick MR, Chalmers SJ, Hawes C, Orchowski LM. Sexual and gender minority inclusivity in bystander intervention programs to prevent violence on college campuses: a critical review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse. 2021;15248380211021606.
Laskey P, Bates EA, Taylor JC. A systematic literature review of intimate partner violence victimisation: an inclusive review across gender and sexuality. Aggress Violent Beh. 2019;47:1–11.
Longobardi C, Badenes-Ribera L. Intimate partner violence in same-sex relationships and the role of sexual minority stressors: a systematic review of the past 10 years. J Child Fam Stud. 2017;26(8):2039–49.
Martín-Castillo D, Jiménez-Barbero JA, Pastor-Bravo MdM, Sánchez-Muñoz M, Fernández-Espín ME, García-Arenas JJ. School victimization in transgender people: a systematic review. Children Youth Serv Rev. 2020;119:C.
Mason TB, Lewis RJ, Milletich RJ, Kelley ML, Minifie JB, Derlega VJ. Psychological aggression in lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals’ intimate relationships: a review of prevalence, correlates, and measurement issues. Aggress Violent Beh. 2014;19(3):219–34.
McGeough BL, Sterzing PR. A systematic review of family victimization experiences among sexual minority youth. J Primary Prevent. 2018;39(5):491–528.
Mendes WG, Duarte MJdO, Andrade CAFd, Silva CMFPd. Systematic review of the characteristics of LGBT homicides. Ciencia & saude coletiva. 2021;26:5615–28.
Murray CE, Mobley AK. Empirical research about same-sex intimate partner violence: a methodological review. J Homosex. 2009;56(3):361–86.
Myers W, Turanovic JJ, Lloyd KM, Pratt TC. The victimization of LGBTQ students at school: a meta-analysis. J Sch Violence. 2020;19(4):421–32.
Nadal KL, Whitman CN, Davis LS, Erazo T, Davidoff KC. Microaggressions toward lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and genderqueer people: a review of the literature. J Sex Res. 2016;53(4–5):488–508.
Peitzmeier SM, Malik M, Kattari SK, Marrow E, Stephenson R, Agénor M, et al. Intimate partner violence in transgender populations: systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence and correlates. Am J Public Health. 2020;110(9):e1–14.
Penone G, Guarnaccia C. Intimate partner violence within same sex couples: a qualitative review of the literature from a psychodynamic perspective. Int J Psychoanalysis Educ. 2018;10(1):32–46.
Rollè L, Giardina G, Caldarera AM, Gerino E, Brustia P. When intimate partner violence meets same sex couples: a review of same sex intimate partner violence. Front Psychol. 2018;9:1506.
Rothman EF, Exner D, Baughman AL. The prevalence of sexual assault against people who identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual in the United States: a systematic review. Trauma Violence Abuse. 2011;12(2):55–66.
Schneeberger AR, Dietl MF, Muenzenmaier KH, Huber CG, Lang UE. Stressful childhood experiences and health outcomes in sexual minority populations: a systematic review. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2014;49(9):1427–45.
Stiles-Shields C, Carroll RA. Same-sex domestic violence: prevalence, unique aspects, and clinical implications. J Sex Marital Ther. 2015;41(6):636–48.
Tobin V, Delaney KR. Child abuse victimization among transgender and gender nonconforming people: a systematic review. Perspect Psychiatr Care. 2019;55(4):576–83.
Toomey RB, Russell ST. The role of sexual orientation in school-based victimization: a meta-analysis. Youth & society. 2016;48(2):176–201.
Tran D, Sullivan CT, Nicholas L. Lateral violence and microaggressions in the LGBTQ+ community: a scoping review. J Homosexuality. 2022;1–15.
Westwood S. Abuse and older lesbian, gay bisexual, and trans (LGBT) people: a commentary and research agenda. J Elder Abuse Negl. 2019;31(2):97–114.
Xu Y, Zheng Y. Prevalence of childhood sexual abuse among lesbian, gay, and bisexual people: a meta-analysis. J Child Sex Abus. 2015;24(3):315–31.
Fish JN. Sexual minority youth are at a disadvantage: what now? Lancet Child Adolescent Health. 2020;4(1):3.
Meyer IH. Prejudice, social stress, and mental health in lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations: conceptual issues and research evidence. Psychol Bull. 2003;129(5):674.
Schrager SM, Goldbach JT, Mamey MR. Development of the sexual minority adolescent stress inventory. Front Psychol. 2018;9:319.
Goldbach C, Knutson D. Gender-related minority stress and gender dysphoria: development and initial validation of the Gender Dysphoria Triggers Scale (GDTS). Psychol Sexual Orientation Gender Diversity. 2021
Wells L, Fotheringham S. A global review of violence prevention plans: where are the men and boys? Int Social Work. 2021;0020872820963430.
Cannon CE. What services exist for LGBTQ perpetrators of intimate partner violence in batterer intervention programs across North America? Qualitative Study Partner Abuse. 2019;10(2):222–42.
Donovan C, Barnes R. Help-seeking among lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender victims/survivors of domestic violence and abuse: the impacts of cisgendered heteronormativity and invisibility. J Sociol. 2020;56(4):554–70.
Brooks D, Wirtz AL, Celentano D, Beyrer C, Hailey-Fair K, Arrington-Sanders R. Gaps in science and evidence-based interventions to respond to intimate partner violence among Black gay and bisexual men in the US: a call for an intersectional social justice approach. Sex Cult. 2021;25(1):306–17.
Nock MK, Ramirez F, Rankin O. Advancing our understanding of the who, when, and why of suicide risk. JAMA Psychiat. 2019;76(1):11–2.
Decker MR, Wilcox HC, Holliday CN, Webster DW. An integrated public health approach to interpersonal violence and suicide prevention and response. Publ Health Rep. 2018;133(1_suppl):65S-79S.
Uehara E, Flynn M, Fong R, Brekke J, Barth RP, Coulton C, et al. Grand challenges for social work. J Soc Social Work Res. 2013;4(3):165–70.
Clark KA, Blosnich JR, Coulter RWS, Bamwine P, Bossarte RM, Cochran SD. Sexual orientation differences in gun ownership and beliefs about gun safety policy, General Social Survey 2010–2016. Violence Gender. 2020;7(1):6–10.
Smith TW, Son J. Trends in gun ownership in the United States, 1972–2014. Chicago, IL: NORC; 2015. p. 1–9.
Miller SV. What Americans think about gun control: evidence from the General Social Survey, 1972–2016. Soc Sci Q. 2019;100(1):272–88.
Mann JJ, Michel CA. Prevention of firearm suicide in the United States: what works and what is possible. Am J Psychiatry. 2016;173(10):969–79.
Blosnich JR, Clark KA, Mays VM, Cochran SD. Sexual and gender minority status and firearms in the household: findings from the 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System surveys. California Texas Publ Health Rep. 2020;135(6):778–84.
Anestis MD, Bryan CJ, Capron DW, Bryan AO. Lethal means counseling, distribution of cable locks, and safe firearm storage practices among the Mississippi National Guard: a factorial randomized controlled trial, 2018–2020. Am J Publ Health. 2021;111(2):309–17.
Zwald ML, Holland KM, Annor F, Kite-Powell A, Sumner SA, Bowen D, et al. Monitoring suicide-related events using National Syndromic Surveillance Program data. Online J Publ Health Informatics. 2019;11:1.
Haas AP, Lane AD, Blosnich JR, Butcher BA, Mortali MG. Collecting sexual orientation and gender identity information at death. Am J Public Health. 2019;109(2):255–9.
Ream GL. What’s unique about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth and young adult suicides? Findings from the National Violent Death Reporting System. J Adolesc Health. 2019;64(5):602–7.
Blosnich JR, Butcher BA, Mortali MG, Lane AD, Haas AP. Training death investigators to identify decedents' sexual orientation and gender identity: a feasibility study. American J Forensic Med Pathol. 2021
Haas AP, Eliason M, Mays VM, Mathy RM, Cochran SD, D’Augelli AR, et al. Suicide and suicide risk in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender populations: review and recommendations. J Homosex. 2010;58(1):10–51.
Stotzer RL. Violence against transgender people: a review of United States data. Aggress Violent Beh. 2009;14(3):170–9.
Funding
JRB was supported by research awards from the National Institutes of Health New Innovators Award and the National Institute of Mental Health (DP2MH129967; R21MH125360).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Disclaimer
The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the institutions, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Veterans Affairs, or the US Government.
Additional information
Publisher's note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
This article is part of the Topical Collection on Injury Epidemiology
Supplementary Information
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Blosnich, J.R. Interpersonal and Self-Directed Violence Among Sexual and Gender Minority Populations: Moving Research from Prevalence to Prevention. Curr Epidemiol Rep 9, 142–160 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40471-022-00299-4
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40471-022-00299-4