Risk and Protective Factors of LGBTQ+ Identity Abuse in Romantic Relationships: A Scoping Review

Identity abuse (IA) is a form of domestic abuse (DA) seen in LGBTQ+ romantic relationships, which weaponizes a partner's gender or sexual identity against them. This scoping review had the primary aim of identifying risk and protective factors of LGBTQ+ IA in romantic relationships. The secondary aim was to determine the prevalence of specific IA tactics (Outing, Isolation from LGBTQ+ Community, Derogatory Language, Belittling Identity). The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis guidelines were followed. Search terms focused on LGBTQ+ identities and DA. A total of 8,918 papers were retrieved across three databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and PsycInfo), with 41 papers meeting the inclusion criteria. Both qualitative and quantitative papers were included in this review. The review identified multiple risk factors for IA perpetration and victimization, such as LGBTQ+ enacted stigma, specific gender expressions, and mental illness. Identifying the prevalence of IA tactics specifically was difficult to determine due to measurement differences. Across 21 quantitative papers, outing was the most reported tactic, being reported in 73.91% of the papers. Overall, the review highlights the field of IA as being under-researched. The synthesis of literature that the review provides is a crucial step to understand and develop IA as a theoretical concept and provides direct recommendations for future research.