COVID-19 Exacerbates Intimate Partner Violence in LGBTQ+ Relationships

A Rutgers study found that LGBTQ individuals who experienced intimate partner violence (IPV) in their current relationship before the COVID-19 pandemic saw an increase in IPV frequency after the pandemic began. Nearly one in five LGBTQ people reported IPV in their current relationship, which increased following the pandemic’s onset. IPV was more prevalent in the southern United States and associated with greater depressive symptom severity. The findings highlight the need for tailored IPV interventions and resources for LGBTQ individuals, particularly during times of national crisis, as their experiences and partner dynamics differ from those of opposite-sex and heterosexual couples.