Exploring abusive behaviours in lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender relationships

Donovan, Catherine and Barnes, Rebecca (2016). Exploring abusive behaviours in lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender relationships. [Data Collection]. Colchester, Essex: UK Data Archive. 10.5255/UKDA-SN-851303

In recent years in the UK there has been recognition that domestic violence and abuse (DVA) takes place in same-sex, bisexual and/or transgender relationships and a parallel and emerging body of research which has begun to explore and develop understandings about how and why this occurs, and whether and how victim/survivors seek help. However, despite this growing literature, there has been no dedicated research on those who are the abusive partners in same-sex, bisexual and/or trans relationships, and consequently there has been little evidence to inform the development of services to address their behaviours. This study, which we have named the Coral Project, is the first UK study to collect data specifically about the perpetration of violent and abusive behaviours in lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender (LGB and/or T) relationships. The aims of the Coral Project were to: explore similarities and differences across sexuality and gender of those who enact ‘abusive’ behaviours in LGB and/or T and heterosexual relationships; do this with those who have enacted ‘abusive’ behaviours as well as practitioners who provide interventions for predominantly heterosexual male perpetrators; explore what methods might work best to elicit data to address these aims; and share key findings with key stakeholders to develop best practice guidance for work with those who use ‘abusive’ behaviours in LGBT relationships. A mixed-methods approach was taken in order to gather both quantitative and qualitative data about the use of abusive behaviours in same-sex, bisexual and/or transgender relationships through a national online survey and follow-up in-depth interviews with volunteers from the survey, respectively. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups with practitioners were also conducted in order to elicit practitioners’ understandings of the use of abusive behaviours within LGB and/or T relationships and their views on the suitability of existing domestic violence perpetrator interventions (designed primarily for heterosexual men) for addressing the abusive behaviour of LGB and/or T individuals, as well as what to find out about the nature of any current provision for LGB and/or T perpetrators and barriers to developing LGB and/or T interventions.

Data description (abstract)

This collection comprises mixed-methods data from a study exploring the use of abusive behaviours by partners in same-sex, bisexual and/or transgender relationships and practitioners' accounts of and perspectives on developing suitable and inclusive interventions for, and responses to, perpetrators of domestic violence and abuse in same-sex, bisexual and/or transgender relationships.

Data creators:

Creator Name	Affiliation	ORCID (as URL)
Donovan Catherine	University of Sunderland
Barnes Rebecca	University of Leicester

Contributors:

Name	Affiliation	ORCID (as URL)
Nixon Catherine

Sponsors:

Economic and Social Research Council

Grant reference:

ES/J012580/1

Topic classification:

Law, crime and legal systems
Social welfare policy and systems
Social stratification and groupings
Society and culture

Keywords:

domestic abuse, domestic violence, same-sex relationships, lesbian relationships, gay relationships, transgender, bisexual relationships, intimate relationships, sexuality, gender, perpetrators, domestic violence perpetrator interventions, LGBT

Project title:

Understanding the relationship practices of abusive partners in same sex and/or trans relationships and their implications for theory and practice

Alternative title:

The Coral Project

Grant holders:

Professor Catherine Donovan

Project dates:

From	To
8 October 2012	28 November 2014

Date published:

05 Aug 2015 11:05

Last modified:

12 Aug 2016 10:56

Coverage and Methodology

Access and Administration

Data sourcing, processing and preparation:

Survey data were checked and cleaned to ensure a stable and accurate SPSS file. Responses which either did not meet the criteria or contained insufficient information (e.g. no demographic data) were removed from the data set. Interviews were transcribed verbatim by a professional transcriber and were then checked by the original interviewer to ensure accuracy. Data have been anonymised by using pseudonyms, altering or removing any names mentioned by interview or focus group participants, removing specific details of agency names, and removing other personal or geographical information which could identify individuals. On occasion, excerpts from interviews have been removed for reasons of protecting anonymity. This has been clearly indicated in the transcripts and predominantly pertains to instances where practitioners shared specific details of individual clients which, even without naming the individual, could risk disclosure of their identity.

Rights owners:

Name	Affiliation	ORCID (as URL)
Donovan Catherine	University of Sunderland
Barnes Rebecca	University of Leicester

Contact:

Name	Email	Affiliation	ORCID (as URL)
Donovan, Catherine	catherine.donovan@sunderland.ac.uk	University of Sunderland	Unspecified
Barnes, Rebecca	rb358@le.ac.uk	University of Leicester	Unspecified

Notes on access:

Data to be embargoed for 12 months to allow time for further data analysis and publication of the research findings by the research team. After that point, the survey data, practitioner interviews and focus groups can be made available, but with the stipulation that users need to be registered with the UK Data Service, and the copyright holders need to approve each request. This is because of the sensitivity of the data and our ethical commitment to preventing the decontextualised citation of these data for purposes that were not consistent with the original aims and values of the research team. The 36 qualitative interviews with survey participants are not suitable for sharing because they include extremely detailed accounts of participants' intimate relationships and stories of experiencing or using abusive behaviours within these relationships. Many of the incidents and relationship dynamics recounted are very distinctive and impossible to anonymise without severely compromising the quality and usefulness of the data. Transcripts have been provided in a non-editable PDF format to protect the integrity of the data. For further information please contact Prof. Catherine Donovan at catherine.donovan@sunderland.ac.uk or Dr Rebecca Barnes at rb358@le.ac.uk

Publisher:

UK Data Archive

Last modified:

12 Aug 2016 10:56

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The Coral Project: Exploring abusive behaviours in lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender relationships: interim report

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