Browsing by Author "Ummak, Esra"

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Citation - WoS: 4
Citation - Scopus: 5
Internalized Heterosexism and Exposed Psychological Intimate Partner Violence: Experiences of Lesbian and Bisexual Women in Turkey and Denmark
(Springer Publishing Co, 2023) Aracı-İyiaydın, Ayşegül; Toplu-Demirtaş, Ezgi; Ummak, Esra
The current study investigates how associations between internalized heterosexism (IH) and psychological intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization differ for lesbian vs. bisexual (LB) women in Denmark, where queer people are relatively well accepted, and Turkey, where discrimination is still very high. The first purpose of the current study is to explore differences in the prevalence of psychological IPV victimization as a function of sexual orientation (LB women) and country (Denmark and Turkey). As the second purpose, we look at the moderating role of sexual orientation and moderated moderating role of country on the association between IH and psychological IPV victimization. A sample of 257 LB women aged 18-71 years (M = 33.23, SD = 11.15) from Denmark and 152 LB women aged 18-52 years (M = 28.88, SD = 7.70) from Turkey participa- ted. The results of chi-square analyses indicate that LB women from Turkey reported significantly higher psychological IPV victimization than LB women from Denmark. Lesbian than bisexual women from both countries reported more hostile withdrawal and dominance/intimidation-related psychological IPV victimization. The results of moderated moderation analyses reveal that lesbian women in Turkey and bisexual women in Denmark with higher IH were more likely to report experiencing denigration acts. Mental health professionals working with queer psychological IPV survivors may benefit from understanding that IH is associated with LB women's victimization of psychologi- cal IPV, which might be further associated with mental health challenges.
Citation - WoS: 8
Citation - Scopus: 8
Unheard Voices of Lgb People in Türkiye on Lgb-Specific Experiences of Intimate Partner Violence: a Qualitative Analysis
(Sage Publications inc, 2024) Demirtaş, Ezgi Toplu; Ummak, Esra; Özkan, Hande
Drawing upon in-depth, semistructured interviews with 26 LGB participants, we explored how LGB individuals experience IPV uniquely in Turkiye. Conducting thematic analysis, we generated four themes: (a) invalidation of sexual identity, (b) controlling sexuality and sexual behaviors, (c) disclosure of sexual orientation, and (d) binegativity. The analysis emphasizes LGB-specific power dynamics influencing IPV. A discussion is provided regarding the extent to which these four themes are specific to IPV in LGB relationships. Additionally, recommendations are offered to mental health professionals on tailoring their approaches and promoting advocacy for the needs of LGB IPV survivors.
Citation - WoS: 8
Citation - Scopus: 8
I Just Thought Maybe This Is [the] Way of Doing Things: Exploring Lesbian-, Gay-, and Bisexual-Specific Intimate Partner Violence in Norway
(Educational Publishing Foundation-american Psychological Assoc, 2024) Ummak, Esra; Turken, Salman; Jessen, Reidar; Toplu-Demirtas, Ezgi
Objective: Intimate partner violence (IPV) in lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) relationships seems to be at least as high as in heterosexual relationships. However, there are uncertainties regarding how IPV is more specifically experienced in LGB relationships. We explore how LGB individuals exposed to IPV make sense of the potentially more specific ways in which IPV is enacted and experienced in LGB relationships. Method: We conducted 26 in-depth interviews with LGB individuals (aged between 19 and 70) in Norway who had experienced IPV. We used a (reflexive) thematic analysis to discern the specific themes that captured how our participants related to IPV. Results: We first illustrate the four types of IPV that our participants talked about: psychological, physical, sexual, and economical. We then present the three main themes that we generated based on the participants' interviews, exploring the more specific ways in which IPV may be experienced in LGB relationships: (a) being dominated, (b) invalidation of sexual orientation, and (c) jealousy-based vulnerability. Conclusions: These findings underscore the prominent role that sexual orientation plays in IPV experiences. Being an LGB individual may generate specific IPV experiences among this group in Norway. The potentially distinct ways in which IPV is enacted and experienced in LGB relationships are important to consider, not only to make the IPV problem among this group visible but also to tailor the psychosocial interventions to the specific needs of this group.
Citation - WoS: 6
Citation - Scopus: 7
The Influence of Internalized Heterosexism on Life Satisfaction: Comparing Sexual Minority Women in Belgium and Turkey
(Springer, 2021) Toplu-Demirtaş, Ezgi; Moe, Jeffry; Ummak, Esra; Pope, Amber L.
To date, the majority of research studying lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) health has been conducted in Westernized, predominantly individualistic countries. Building on minority stress theory and models of LGBTQ health, we explored how sexual orientation and nationality moderated the association between internalized heterosexism and life satisfaction for lesbian and bisexual (LB) women living in two countries (Turkey and Belgium) with contrasting social contexts. The results of two-way MANOVA, in a sample of 339 Turkish and 220 Belgian LB women, revealed main effects but no interaction effects. LB women in Belgium reported less internalized heterosexism and more life satisfaction than LB women in Turkey. The results of moderation analyses indicated no moderation effect, however internalized heterosexism and country emerged as the best predictors of life satisfaction. Findings were interpreted with a focus on how culture-specific aspects contribute to life satisfaction among LB women. Our findings suggest mental health professionals working with LB women need to tailor therapeutic interventions to reflect the social context connected to their patients’ nationality, in order to effectively address internalized heterosexism, improve life satisfaction, and promote self- and social advocacy. Cultural values, such as adherence to collectivistic or individualistic norms, should be included as variables in future research examining determinants of LGBTQ health.