Intimate partner violence (IPV) among sexual minority men (SMM) is a critical but understudied issue, particularly from a network perspective. This systematic review synthesizes findings from seven quantitative studies that apply either social network analysis (SNA) or variable network analysis (VNA) to examine the relationship between network characteristics and IPV experiences. The SNA findings suggest that larger sexual networks—defined by a higher number of recent sexual partners—are associated with increased IPV victimization and perpetration. Additionally, network composition plays a role in IPV risk: having a greater proportion of openly gay friends is associated with lower odds of sexual IPV perpetration, while having more closeted gay friends is linked to higher risk of sexual IPV victimization. In contrast, VNA studies analyze correlations among syndemic indicators (e.g., IPV, substance use, depression) rather than interpersonal ties. These studies find that substance use is the only network variable consistently associated with IPV, with significant positive correlations between IPV victimization and substance use across different syndemic networks. Despite these insights, the reviewed studies demonstrate methodological limitations, including reliance on cross-sectional designs, geographic concentration in the United States, and inconsistent operationalization of IPV types. This review highlights the need for longitudinal and intersectional network analyses to better understand IPV dynamics among SMM and inform targeted interventions. 

Keywords: intimate partner violence, sexual minority men, network analysis, systematic review