Prevalence and Risk Correlates of Intimate Partner Violence Among Young Transgender Women

Background and Purpose. Young transgender women (YTW) may experience disparate rates and distinct forms of intimate partner violence (IPV) in comparison to cisgender individuals, although the etiology of IPV among YTW remains underdeveloped in the literature. It is imperative to understand the prevalence and stressors of IPV among YTW, as studies have found that IPV is associated with multiple negative health outcomes in this population. YTW also may experience high rates of minority stressors, including transgender-related victimization, discrimination, and mistreatment around their gender identity or expression.  The current study examined the prevalence and risk correlates of IPV among sample of YTW, using a minority stress framework.

Methods. Participants included a racially and ethnically diverse sample of 204 YTW between the ages of 16 and 29 from Chicago, Illinois and Boston, Massachusetts.  Participants completed assessments of IPV, childhood abuse, and experiences with minority stressors, including transgender-related victimization and discrimination. A multivariate regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between childhood abuse, minority stressors and IPV.

Results. Prevalence of IPV was high among this sample (42%), including experiencing distinct forms of IPV that were related to gender identity.  Experiencing stressors was also high among this sample, including experiencing childhood abuse (58%) and minority stressors (i.e., transgender-related victimization, 75%, and day-to-day unfair treatment and discrimination, 85%). In the multivariate model, childhood abuse was positively associated with IPV (β = .23, p = .02).  Minority stressors also were associated with higher rates of IPV, including transgender-related victimization (β = .37, p < .001) and day-to-day unfair treatment and discrimination (β = .12, p = .03).

Conclusions & Implications. The current study’s findings contribute to a nascent area of research among gender minorities, finding that 42% of YTW experienced a form of IPV, reflecting a high level of vulnerability. YTW’s experiences of IPV also included dynamics related to gender identity, differing from those of cisgender survivors. Overall, our findings support the necessity for researchers to continue to examine the etiology of IPV among transgender individuals. Future research may consider potential risk and protective factors in the relation between minority stressors and IPV. Our findings have important implications for domestic violence service providers and other health professionals.  Crisis line workers, social service and legal providers, and law enforcement personnel need training to effectively support transgender individuals who have experienced IPV as well as additional forms of marginalization, abuse and victimization.