Intimate Partner Violence in Mid‐Adulthood in the United States: Patterns by Sexual Orientation and Sex Assigned at Birth

Introduction Population estimates of the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization and perpetration are limited for sexual minorities in mid‐adulthood. Methods We examined IPV prevalence estimates, and associations between sexual orientation and self‐reported physical and sexual IPV experiences among 10,812 respondents ages 33–43 years who were in a current relationship and participated in Wave V of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, a population‐based US study. We conducted sex‐stratified logistic regressions to model associations between sexual orientation and IPV, adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, highest educational attainment, and household income as percent of federal poverty level. Results Ninety one percent of men and 80% of women self‐identified as heterosexual. Prevalence ratios indicated greater victimization and perpetration among male and female sexual minorities compared to heterosexuals. In adjusted regression models, sexual minority men had higher odds of physical perpetration (AOR = 1.8) than heterosexuals. Among women, sexual minorities had higher odds of physical and sexual victimization (AORs = 1.8 and 1.8, respectively) than heterosexual females, and higher odds of physical perpetration (AOR = 1.9). Conclusions Even into mid‐adulthood, sexually minoritized groups have a disproportionate likelihood of experiencing both IPV perpetration and victimization compared to heterosexual peers. More work is needed to understand and address sources of these disparities.