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Scarleteen is a free online sexuality and relationship education platform providing medically accurate, trauma-informed, and explicitly queer- and trans-inclusive information, along with opportunities for support and help-seeking. Because sexual decision-making and relationship health are tightly linked to broader physical and mental health, access to affirming education and support may be especially important for people navigating experiences of dating violence and intimate partner violence (DV-IPV) and sexual violence (SV). IPV and SV have been consistently associated with poorer health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and reduced sexual well-being and functioning. Additionally, the literature indicates that queer and trans individuals experience higher rates of IPV and SV than cisgender and heterosexual people. This study aims to explore the relationship between IPV and SV experiences and health outcomes of former and current adult users of Scarleteen.
Methods
We co-developed this retrospective evaluation of Scarleteen in partnership with the executive director and youth director. Participants were recruited via Scarleteen’s website and social media platforms and completed an anonymous online survey. A total of 158 individuals completed the survey (mean age = 34.8 years). Pearson chi-square tests and logistic regression models were used to examine associations between DV-IPV/SV experiences and self-reported overall health, mental health, and sexual health.
Results
Most participants (n = 150, 95.5%) identified as part of the LGBTQIA+ umbrella, and 65.8% (n = 104) identified as trans. In an ordinal logistic regression predicting overall health status, compared with individuals who had experienced DV-IPV once, those who experienced DV-IPV multiple times had significantly greater odds of reporting worse overall health (OR = 3.16, 95% CI = [1.19, 8.47], p = 0.022). A chi-square test indicated a significant association between lifetime experience of SV and overall self-rated health (χ² = 23.32, df = 12, p = 0.03). Among the sub-sample of trans participants, both experiences of DV-IPV and SV were associated with negative overall health ratings.
Conclusion and Implications
Results indicate a need for additional resources to protect and support queer and especially trans individuals in relation to IPV and SV. Further research is also needed to understand the distinct ways trans and gender-diverse individuals experience IPV and SV. Inclusive educational resources and community support may buffer the negative effects of IPV and SV on health outcomes by helping individuals build knowledge, identify unhealthy relationship dynamics and coercive control tactics, and find help-seeking options. Overall, these findings support continued research on the relationship between inclusive educational resources and health outcomes among individuals exposed to IPV and SV.