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NEW YORK CITY, Oct. 18 ??? An arresting new study in the Journal of Urban Health: Bulletin of The New York Academy of Medicine finds that 32 percent of gay and bisexual men—nearly one in three—are victims of intimate partner abuse.
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Little has previously been researched and documented about the patterns of intimate partner abuse in same-sex male couples. The results provide an important addition to the body of knowledge on this subject, and a call to action for health providers treating men who have sex with men (MSM).
“Men in same-sex relationships experience abuse rates similar to those faced by women in heterosexual pairings,” said lead author Eric Houston of the Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago. “Intimate partner abuse among MSM does not receive the same attention as it does among heterosexual couples. As a result of the lack of attention, many MSM who need help may not be recognized unless the healthcare provider is appropriately trained and takes time to assess for abuse.”
Men in abusive relationships were more likely to report suffering from serious health problems such as heart disease, hypertension, depression, and anxiety, according to the study. These men also were more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors such as substance abuse and unprotected sex, leaving the gay/bisexual population at elevated risk of spreading and contracting HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Few prior studies have examined the health problems specific to abused gay and bisexual men.
Entitled “Intimate Partner Abuse among Gay and Bisexual Men: Risk Correlates and Health Outcomes,” the study is based upon a survey of a diverse urban population of 817 MSMs in the Chicago area. Data was collected from 15-minute anonymous, seven-page surveys administered at 11 different gay/bisexual venues in Chicago. The survey involved African-Americans (51.3 percent), Whites (22.4 percent), Latinos (16.3 percent), and Asian/Pacific Islanders and other ethnic groups (10 percent).
More than half of the men who were victims of intimate partner abuse in a current or a past relationship reported experiencing more than one form of abuse (verbal, sexual and physical). Of the men reporting abuse, 63.4 percent reported verbal abuse, 59.2 percent reported physical, and 57 percent reported sexual. Prevalence of abuse did not significantly vary by ethnic group, or among men who did or did not have a primary partner. The study looked at three key health behaviors: alcohol and drug use, unprotected sex, and smoking. Test results found that abused men were more likely to report monthly or more frequent alcohol intoxication and problems caused by substance use. Abused men were also more likely to report frequent use of substances before or during sex as well as having unprotected sex, leading to a higher risk of spreading or contracting HIV/AIDS and other STDs.
“It is imperative that future research focus on ways to assess abuse and examine strategies designed to improve outreach to bring these men out of danger and improve their overall health outcomes,” Houston said.
About the Journal of Urban Health
The Journal of Urban Health is a bimonthly peer-reviewed publication of The New York Academy of Medicine and focuses on the emerging fields of urban health and epidemiology. The Journal addresses health issues such as substance abuse, teenage pregnancy, HIV, tuberculosis, and violence from both clinical and policy perspectives, filling a neglected niche in medical and health literature. Published since 1847, the Journal is edited by David Vlahov, PhD, RN, Director of the Academy’s Center for Urban Epidemiologic Studies and Senior Vice President for Research.
About The New York Academy of Medicine
Founded in 1847, The New York Academy of Medicine is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit institution whose mission is to enhance the health of the public. Our research, education, community engagement, and evidence-based advocacy seek to improve the health of people living in cities, especially disadvantaged and vulnerable populations. The impact of these initiatives reaches into neighborhoods in New York City, across the country, and around the world. We work with community based organizations, academic institutions, corporations, the media, and government to catalyze and contribute to changes that promote health. Visit us online at www.nyam.org.
-by Sarah Rathsam
Posted on October 18, 2007
Contact:
Andrew J. Martin
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New York, New York 10029
212-822-7285
amartin@nyam.org
Reporters: to arrange interviews with NYAM medical and urban health experts, contact
Andrew J. Martin, Director of Communications
212-822-7285 / amartin@nyam.org
The 2012-2013 Duncan Clark Lecture - The Affordable Care Act: An Insider’s View
Featured Speaker: Sherry Glied, PhD, former Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
November 19, 2012 - The NYAM Section on Health Care Delivery welcomes Sherry Glied, PhD, former Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, who will deliver the 2012-2013 Duncan Clark Lecture on "The Affordable Care Act: An Insider's View."
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The New York Academy of Medicine with support from the New York State Heath Foundation released a new report, Federal Health Care Reform in New York State: A Population Health Perspective.
This report identifies opportunities that build on both the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act (ACA) and New York’s ongoing efforts toward improving the health of its 19 million residents.
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Read report
