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Childhood Abuse Risk Higher in Lesbian and Bisexual Women Than in Heterosexual Women

by Kathy Jones on Jun 18 2012 8:30 PM

 Childhood Abuse Risk Higher in Lesbian and Bisexual Women Than in Heterosexual Women
A new study published in the journal Sex Roles reveals that lesbians and bisexual women are more likely to report childhood abuse or suffer from sexual assault compared to heterosexual women.
The study was conducted by researchers at VA Puget Sound Health Care System in Seattle who launched an anonymous internet poll in which more than 1,200 adult sexual minority women took part.

The researchers also found that women who are more masculine in appearance were more likely to report childhood abuse, including emotional and physical abuse, while those who are more feminine suffered from adult sexual assaults.

“The sexual minority women in our sample reported high rates of childhood abuse and neglect and adult sexual assault. Women who described themselves as more butch reported significantly greater childhood emotional and physical neglect. Those who identified themselves as more femme reported significantly more forced adult sex”, lead researcher Dr Keren Lehavot said.

Source-Medindia


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