Xavier Guadalupe-Diaz
Associate Professor, Framingham State University
Key Findings
- Emotional abuse among college students was significantly associated with an increase in alcohol consumption.
- Although all college students reported signs of depression, in the heterosexual population, depression increased emotional abuse but did not in the LGBQ population.
- Experiencing father-to-mother violence significantly increased reports of emotional abuse for heterosexuals.
- Experiencing mother-to-father violence significantly decreased reports of emotional abuse for LGBQ individuals.
- For LGBQ individuals, internal stigma significantly increased emotional abuse victimization.
- For heterosexuals, as age increased, the likelihood of emotional abuse decreased.
- White respondents in the both groups were less likely to report emotional abuse than non-White LGBQ respondents.
- Traits of anger, jealousy, and possessiveness were significantly successful in predicting emotional abuse victims.
- Individuals reporting higher rates of anger, jealousy, and possessiveness were also more likely to report emotional abuse and victimization.
- For heterosexuals, alcohol consumption and father-to-mother violence were significant factors for predicting emotional abuse.
- For members of the LGBQ group, alcohol consumption, father-to-mother violence, and internal stigma were significant factors for predicting emotional abuse.
Description
In the article, “Testing Target Congruence Theory on Emotional Abuse Victimization Experienced by Heterosexual and LGBQ College Students,” Guadalupe-Diaz and his co-author examine intimate partner violence (IPV) in heterosexual and LGBQ university students using the target congruence theory. The target congruence theory makes connections to understand why an offender may select a specific victim (alcohol consumption, depression, parental violence, etc.). To conduct their study, the researchers used survey data from more than 650 university students from two large state universities. From the sample, about 160 students identified as LGBQ and many of the participants identified as Hispanic as one of the schools sampled had a large Hispanic population. The results showed that emotional abuse in both the heterosexual and LGBQ populations was significantly associated with an increase in alcohol consumption. Although both groups also reported signs of depression, in the heterosexual population, depression increased emotional abuse but did not in the LGBQ population. Experiencing father-to-mother violence significantly increased reports of emotional abuse for heterosexuals. Experiencing mother-to-father violence significantly decreased reports of emotional abuse for LGBQ individuals. For LGBQ individuals, internal stigma significantly increased emotional abuse victimization. For heterosexuals, as age increased, the likelihood of emotional abuse decreased. White respondents in the both groups were less likely to report emotional abuse than non-White LGBQ respondents. Traits of anger, jealousy, and possessiveness were significantly successful in predicting emotional abuse victims. Individuals reporting higher rates of anger, jealousy, and possessiveness were also more likely to report emotional abuse. For heterosexuals, alcohol consumption and father-to-mother violence were significant factors for predicting emotional abuse in the congruence model. For members of the LGBQ group, alcohol consumption, father-to-mother violence and internal stigma were significant factors for predicting emotional abuse in the congruence model. Additionally, jealousy and possessiveness remains significant for both groups in the congruence model. In conclusion, the researchers note the need for future research to collect longitudinal data to help create resources for emotional abuse support systems.