A review of the syndemic components of male same-sex intimate partner violence

Abstract

Intimate partner violence is an underreported, stigmatized, and deleterious reality affecting a greater proportion of gay and bisexual men than their heterosexual counterparts. Syndemic theory suggests that many health conditions do not occur in a vacuum, but rather act synergistically, with factors reinforcing each other. Syndemic factors for those who experience male same-sex intimate partner violence (MSSIPV) include depression, sexual compulsivity, substance abuse, childhood sexual abuse (CSA), and HIV infection. This manuscript contains a review of the literature on syndemic factors of MSSIPV that increase negative health outcomes. Acknowledging and understanding the interrelation of these problems is a critical step in developing interventions to address this syndemic in the population of gay men.