LGBTQ+ Youth and Dating Violence: The Role of Minority Stress
This research project examines the prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes of dating violence among LGBTQ+ adolescents and young adults, with a focus on how discrimination and identity-related experiences shape vulnerability to violence in intimate relationships.
Principal investigator
Alexa Martin-Storey
Co-investigators
N/A
Funding source
N/A
Objectives & Methods
Objectives
This project aims to identify prevalence and correlates of dating violence among LGBTQ+ youth to improve outcomes.
Methods and Sample
This research project uses secondary data analyses and quantitative reviews to investigate the prevalence and correlates of dating violence among LGBTQ+ adolescents and young adults. By synthesizing evidence across multiple studies and datasets, the project examines how sexual and gender minority identities, discrimination, and relationship contexts influence experiences of dating violence and relationship well-being. The project is ongoing and continues to generate evidence to inform tailored prevention and intervention efforts for diverse LGBTQ+ populations.
Key findings
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Across the Martin Storey Lab’s research — including a recent meta-analysis synthesizing findings across multiple studies — LGBTQ+ youth and young adults consistently experience higher rates of dating violence than their heterosexual peers, with this elevated risk beginning in adolescence and persisting into young adulthood (Maryn et al., 2026; Martin-Storey, 2015; Martin-Storey & Fromme, 2016; Martin-Storey et al., 2021).
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Discrimination is a key reason why LGBTQ+ people face greater risk — being targeted for one's identity doesn't just cause harm on its own, it also increases vulnerability to violence in intimate relationships (Martin-Storey & Fromme, 2021). Plurisexual people (those attracted to more than one gender, e.g., bisexual or queer individuals) face particularly elevated risks, including a specific form of abuse where partners weaponize and stigmatize their sexual identity — which in turn undermines relationship satisfaction (Pollitt & Martin-Storey, 2024).
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Risk is not uniform across all LGBTQ+ youth — it varies meaningfully by gender, the specific nature of one's sexual minority identity, and the gender of one's partners, underscoring the importance of tailoring prevention and intervention efforts to the diversity of experiences within LGBTQ+ communities (Martin-Storey, 2015; Martin-Storey et al., 2021).
Associated outputs and publications
Maryn, A., Exner-Cortens, D., Matejko, E., Keough, J., Camacho Soto, J. N., & Martin-Storey, A. (2026). Risk of Dating Violence Among Sexually Minoritized Relative to Heterosexual Young People in School-and Community-Based Samples: Meta-Analysis. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 15248380261439149.
Pollitt, A. M., & Martin-Storey, A. (2024). Relationship satisfaction among plurisexual young adults: Understanding the unique role of identity abuse. Psychology of sexual orientation and gender diversity.
Martin-Storey, A., & Fromme, K. (2021). Mediating factors explaining the association between sexual minority status and dating violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 36(1-2), 132-159.
Martin-Storey, A., Pollitt, A. M., & Baams, L. (2021). Profiles and predictors of dating violence among sexual and gender minority adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 68(6), 1155-1161.
Martin-Storey, A., & Fromme, K. (2016). Trajectories of dating violence: Differences by sexual minority status and gender. Journal of adolescence, 49, 28-37.
Martin-Storey, A. (2015). Prevalence of dating violence among sexual minority youth: Variation across gender, sexual minority identity and gender of sexual partners. Journal of youth and adolescence, 44(1), 211-224.