ORIGINAL ARTICLE Examining Factors Co-Existing with Interpersonal Violence in Lesbian Relationships Lisa Eaton & Michelle Kaufman & Andrea Fuhrel & Demetria Cain & Charsey Cherry & Howard Pope & Seth C. Kalichman Published online: 26 July 2008 # Springer Science + Business Media, LLC 2008 Abstract Interpersonal violence within lesbian relation- ships is a significant yet understudied problem. Women attending a gay pride festival in Atlanta, GA, were asked to complete a survey concerning same-sex interpersonal violence. Women who reported being in a current or previous same-sex partner relationship were included in the analyses (N =226). Factors that occurred in the context of interpersonal violence were investigated: substance use, HIV/STI risk behaviors, barriers to reporting abuse, and attitudes inhibiting seeking of social support. In addition, the survey assessed relationship-related power dynamics. Results of multivariate analyses support the hypotheses that power imbalance and inequality when making sex-related decisions within women’s same-sex relationships are associated with interpersonal violence. Further findings suggested that a combination of factors must be considered when dealing with and reducing the risk for violence in same-sex relationships. Keywords Lesbian relationships . Interpersonal violence . Power . Sexual decision making Research has demonstrated that lesbians are affected by interpersonal violence (IPV) at rates similar to heterosex- uals (Lockhart et al. 1994; Owen and Burke 2004). The frequency of IPV in lesbian relationships ranges from about 25% to 50% (Alexander 2002; Brand and Kidd 1986; Lockhart et al. 1994) and includes physical, social, and psychological violence. These prevalence estimates of violence are alarming given that IPV within same-sex relationships engenders serious and devastating personal and interpersonal crises. Psychosocial needs of lesbians affected by IPV should be understood so that services for women involved with same-sex IPV can provide the most comprehensive support and care (Burke et al. 2002; McClennen 2005). In order to provide these services, certain aspects of these women’ s lives warrant further understanding: their sub- stance use, HIV/STI risk behaviors, and attitudes toward reporting IPV. Further, how power dynamics within a relationship affect couples is also of importance. These factors have been identified by prior research as areas that are critical for explaining IPV likelihood, frequency, and coping behaviors. Research has established a connection between sub- stance abuse and IPV; in particular, IPV increases during periods in which alcohol or drugs are being used (Fals- Stewart 2003; Schumacher et al. 2001). Testa et al. (2003) assessed women’ s substance use in abusive heterosexual relationships and found that hard drug use was associated with increased odds of experiencing IPV. It is clear that IPV often exists in the same context as substance use and that abusers and victims both have been found to abuse substances. However, a limited amount research has been dedicated to studying the relationship between substance abuse and IPV among lesbian couples. A more recent meta-analysis suggests that lesbians might be more vulnerable to alcohol- related problems than heterosexual women and are less likely than heterosexual women to abstain from alcohol use (Hughes and Eliason 2002). Substance use may, therefore, be as critical a factor in same-sex relationships that involve IPV as it is in heterosexual relationships that involve IPV. J Fam Viol (2008) 23:697–705 DOI 10.1007/s10896-008-9194-3 L. Eaton (*) : M. Kaufman : A. Fuhrel : D. Cain : C. Cherry : H. Pope : S. C. Kalichman Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, 406 Babbidge Road, Storrs, CT 06269, USA e-mail: lisa.eaton@uconn.edu