Exploring intimate partner violence and mental health outcomes among lesbian and bisexual college women in India: A cross‐sectional study

OBJECTIVE: This study estimates the prevalence of various forms of intimate partner violence (IPV) and examines their associations with depressive and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among lesbian and bisexual women (LBW) in India. METHODS: This cross-sectional online survey included 53 self-identified LBW college women in India. Participants were recruited through social media platforms, instant messaging applications, and student listservs. Interested participants were invited to complete an online survey assessing IPV experiences and symptoms of depression and PTSD. RESULTS: Overall, 58.5% of participants reported experiencing at least one form of IPV. Psychological IPV was most prevalent (49.1%), followed by digital IPV (34%), physical IPV (28.3%), injuries (26.4%), and sexual IPV (26.4%). Approximately 26.4% of participants met the threshold for probable depression and 30% for probable PTSD. Correlational analyses revealed significant associations between various forms of IPV and symptoms of depression and PTSD. Negative binomial regression analyses indicated that experiencing IPV, particularly psychological and digital IPV, was associated with higher levels of depressive and PTSD symptoms. CONCLUSION: This exploratory study observed substantial IPV prevalence among lesbian and bisexual college women in India, highlighting its impact on mental health symptoms. Targeted interventions designed to address both IPV and its associated mental health consequences can potentially enhance help-seeking behavior within this vulnerable population.