Dating violence, mental health symptoms, and life satisfaction in same-sex and opposite-sex relationships in Spain: A gender analysis

Intimate partner violence has become a major social and public health problem. Thus, this study examines dating violence perpetration and victimization in opposite-sex and same-sex couples in Spain. The sample was non-probabilistic and consisted of 240 men and 288 women, half of each gender group had a same-sex partner while the other half had an opposite-sex partner. Participants were assessed using six scales and questionnaires. The results showed that 60.8% of men and 59% of women in same-sex relationships and 67.5% of men and 48.6% of women in opposite-sex relationships reported experiencing some – mostly psychological – violence from their partner. 21.7% of men and 11.1% of women with a same-sex partner and 25.8% of men and 9.7% of women with an opposite-sex partner reported experiencing physical violence, and 10% of men and 9% of women with a same-sex partner and 7.5% men and 6.3% women with an opposite sex partner reported sexual violence. The results showed that 60.8% of men and 59% of women in same-sex relationships and 67.5% of men and 48.6% of women in opposite-sex relationships reported experiencing some – mostly psychological – violence from their partner: 21.7% of men and 11.1%. Perpetration and victimization were associated: 47.5% of men and 46.5% of women with a same-sex partner and 53.3% of men and 38.9% of women with an opposite-sex partner reported being both victims and perpetrators of dating violence. In all groups, being a victim of violence was linked to increased anxiety and insomnia symptoms, and in some groups, it was also linked to severe depressive symptoms and low self-esteem. Despite differences depending on gender and whether the relationship is between same-sex or opposite-sex partners, dating violence is common in all relationships and represents a serious threat to mental health and well-being.