A description of intimate partnerships in The Bahamas and their association with adult aggression and other experiences

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15362/ijbs.v31i2.635

Keywords:

Sweethearting, Extramarital relationships, Interpersonal violence, Interpersonal relationships, Domestic violence, Intimate partner violence

Abstract

This article builds off of data collected in a previous study of 5,351 Bahamian adults, examining respondents’ experiences of intimate relationships. About 10% of both male and female respondents in sexual relationships reported engaging in non-heterosexual sex. Notably, these relationships were associated with higher levels of aggression and domestic violence than heterosexual relationships. Also of note, divorce was most commonly reported in the 40-plus age group. Finally, separation and divorce were associated with higher levels of aggression, domestic violence and experiences of unwanted sexual intercourse than those in married or unmarried relationships.

Author Biography

William J. Fielding, University of The Bahamas

Director, Planning Office Office of The President The College of The Bahamas

References

AA v. BB, FAM/div/00412 Bahamas. (2021). https://www.courts.bs/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Judgment-AA-and-BB.pdf

Amato, P. R. (2017). Divorce among African Americans. National Healthy Marriage Resource Center. https://www.healthymarriageinfo.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/1492-DivorceAfricanAmericans_508.pdf

Bahamas Department of Statistics. (2013). Household expenditure survey 2013 report. https://stats.gov.bs/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Bahamas-Household-Expenditure-Survey-2013-Report_v2.pdf

Bahamas National Statistical Institute. (2024). 2022 Census of population and housing.

Bahamas Ministry of Health. (2019). The Bahamas STEPS survey 2019: Fact sheet. https://ufdc.ufl.edu/aa00083290/00001

Bahamas Ministry of Health & Wellness. (2024). Rooting Out Violence: Green paper document. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TZBKo1z_VRiQMFQioXhTzVJHH4iVvQNW/view

Bahamas Registrar General Department. (2016, October 25). Bahamas government statement on same sex marriage. http://www.thebahamasweekly.com/publish/bis-news-updates/Bahamas_government_statement_on_same_sex_marriage50944.shtml

Bailey, P. (2024, April 19). Woman claims she stabbed former lover with a knife in self-defence. The Tribune. http://www.tribune242.com/news/2024/apr/19/woman-claims-she-stabbed-former-lover-knife-self-d/

Bailey, P. (2024, May 1). MP raped me and spat on me. The Tribune. http://www.tribune242.com/news/2024/may/01/mp-raped-me-and-spat-me/

Bailey, P. (2025, May 17). Man sentenced after drunken break-in to room paid for by Social Services. The Tribune. https://www.tribune242.com/news/2025/may/17/man-sentenced-after-drunken-break-in-to-room-paid-for-by-social-services/?news

Benjamin, L., & LeGrand, C. (2012). Sound and fury: Newspaper coverage of the marital rape debate in New Providence. International Journal of Bahamian Studies, 18, 16-35. https://doi.org/10.15362/ijbs.v18i0.164

Bethel, N., & Fielding, W. J. (2020). Attitudes and knowledge of Bahamian college students regarding sexual consent. International Journal of Bahamian Studies, 26, 73–100. https://doi.org/10.15362/ijbs.v26i0.371

Bahamas Weekly. (2016, May 17). GBHRA: LGBT attacks highlight urgent need for hate crime laws By Grand Bahama Human Rights Association (GBHRA). http://www.thebahamasweekly.com/publish/local/GBHRA_LGBT_attacks_highlight_urgent_need_for_hate_crime_laws48329.shtml

Blosnich, J. R., & Bossarte, R. M. (2009). Comparisons of intimate partner violence among partners in same-sex and opposite-sex relationships in the United States. American Journal of Public Health, 99(12), 2182–2184. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2008.139535

Bowleg, E. (2021, November 24). We need more shelters for domestic abuse victims. The Tribune. http://www.tribune242.com/news/2021/nov/24/we-need-more-shelters-domestic-abuse-victims/

Bowleg, E. (2022, July 13). PM asked: ‘How are you going to take care of queer Bahamians?’ The Tribune. http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/jul/13/pm-asked-how-are-you-going-take-care-queer-bahamia/

Brennen, B. (2024). The Bahamas marriage, divorce, and live births statistics {Weblog]. Sounds of Encouragement. https://www.soencouragement.org/stats2000.htm

Brown, S. L., & Lin, I. (2022). The graying of divorce: A half century of change. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 9, 1710–1720. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbac057

Buss, A. H., & Perry, M. (1992). The aggression questionnaire. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 63(3), 452–459. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.63.3.452

Cadet, A. (2018, April 13). Troubled married women urged to focus on God instead of husband. The Tribune. http://www.tribune242.com/news/2018/apr/09/troubled-married-women-urged-to-focus-on-god/

Clarke, A. (2020, October 16). A dark time for The Bahamas [Weblog post]. https://www.everythingbahamian.com/blog-1/396byheoig8ddv196j98ghv6ov9ygg

Dames, C. (2022, September 20). Pintard: Too many frivolous reasons for divorce. The Nassau Guardian. https://www.thenassauguardian.com/home/pintard-too-many-frivolous-reasons-for-divorce/article_30efe8d7-ccf0-5449-afe7-0a8da9ae0d1e.html

Darville, F. (2024, March 5). Face to face: Weathering the hurricane of divorce. The Tribune. http://www.tribune242.com/news/2024/mar/05/face-face-weathering-hurricane-divorce/

Dunn, L. L. (2002). The Bahamas: The situation of children in the worst forms of child labour in a tourism economy: A rapid assessment. ILO Subregional Office for the Caribbean. https://original-ufdc.uflib.ufl.edu/AA00086393/00001

Editorial: Shelter for abused women needs action [Editorial]. (2024, April 8). The Tribune. https://www.tribune242.com/news/2024/apr/08/shelter-abused-women-needs-action/

Fielding, W. J. (2017). Paternity rates of prisoners in The Bahamas. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/392499203_Paternity_rates_of_prisoners_in_The_Bahamas

Fielding, W. J. (2018). Socio-economic attributes of teen mothers in The Bahamas. ResearchGate https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.34516.50561

Fielding, W. J., & Ballance, V. C. (2022). The Bahamian justification for using corporal punishment within the home: A Christian habit? International Journal of Bahamian Studies, 28, 17–32. https://doi.org/10.15362/ijbs.v28i0.449

Fielding, W. J., & Ballance, V. C. (Eds.). (2022). Sexual violence in The Bahamas: An introduction. University of The Bahamas Press. https://ufdc.ufl.edu/aa00091334/00001

Fielding, W. J., & Ballance, V. C. (2023). Behaviours associated with male “sweethearting” (infidelity) in heterosexual relationships in The Bahamas. International Journal of Bahamian Studies, 29(2), 46–56. https://doi.org/10.15362/ijbs.v29i2.521

Fielding, W. J., Ballance, V. C. F., & Strachan, I. G. (Eds.). (2016). Violence in The Bahamas: A monograph on research undertaken by The College of The Bahamas on violence in The Bahamas. University of The Bahamas/Media Enterprises. https://dloc.com/title-sets/AA00078778

Fielding, W. J., Campbell, T., Rolle-Sands, S. Y. (2026). A description of sweethearting in The Bahamas. International Journal of Bahamian Studies, 31(2), 1-20. https://doi.org/ 10.15362/ijbs.v31i2.641

Gaskins, J. (2013). ‘Buggery’ and the Commonwealth Caribbean: A comparative examination of the Bahamas, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago. In C. Lennox & M. Waites (Eds.). Human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity in The Commonwealth: Struggles for decriminalisation and change (pp. 429-454). University of London Press. https://doi.org/10.14296/518.9781912250134

Gibson, J. (2009, February 23). AIDS and infidelity: A woman's cry. The Tribune. http://www.tribune242.com/news/2009/feb/23/aids-and-infidelity-a-womans-cry/

Gravningen, K., Mitchell, K. R., Wellings, K., Johnson, A. M., Geary, R., Jones, K. G., Clifton, S., Erens, B., Lu, M., Chayachinda, C., Field, N., Sonnenberg, P., & Mercer, C. H. (2017). Reported reasons for breakdown of marriage and cohabitation in Britain: Findings from the third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles. Plos One, 12(3), e0174129. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0174129

Hanna, C. A. (2017). Solutions to the murder problem in The Bahamas. Ministry of National Security. https://www.royalbahamaspolice.org/archives/sollutionstomurders.pdf

Hurt, T. R. (2013). Understanding distinct marital separation patterns among Black couples. National Resource Center for Healthy Marriage and Families. https://dr.lib.iastate.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/18b30b47-36a1-41f0-9235-9dafe902af84/content

Inter-American Development Bank. (2024). IDB group country strategy with the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, 2024–2028. https://www.iadb.org/document.cfm?id=EZIDB0000068-666511611-10

IPSOS. (2023). LGBT+ Pride 2023: A 30-country Ipsos global advisor survey. https://www.ipsos.com/sites/default/files/ct/news/documents/2023-05/Ipsos%20LGBT%2B%20Pride%202023%20Global%20Survey%20Report%20-%20rev.pdf

Kar, A., Das, N., Broadway-Horner, M., & Kumar, P. (2023). Intimate partner violence in same-sex relationships: Are we aware of the implications? Journal of Psychosexual Health, 5(1), 13–19. https://doi.org/10.1177/26318318221134268

Kempadoo, K. (2009). Prostitution, sex work and transactional sex in the English, Dutch and French speaking Caribbean. PANCAP/CARICOM. https://pancap.org/pw/pcc/media/pancap_document/ProstitutionSex-Work-Transactional-Sex-Literature-Review-Sept-4-2009.pdf

Knowles, K. W. (2016, May 12). Marriage for three [Letter to the Editor]. The Tribune. http://www.tribune242.com/news/2016/may/12/marriage-three/

Martin-Mack, C. (2012). Homophobic attitudes and stigma toward gay men and lesbians in the Caribbean: A systematic review of the literature [Master’s thesis, Barry University]. https://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/concern/etds/eea75525-faee-4f71-8776-b27dfb2e37e2

Moxey-Adderley, T. E., & Fielding, W. J. (2024). Aggression and its correlates in the Bahamian community with a focus on corporal punishment. International Journal of Bahamian Studies, 30, 15–32. https://doi.org/10.15362/ijbs.v30i1.557

Moxey-Adderley, T., & Walker, B. L. (2023). Legal rape in The Bahamas: A scoping review. International Journal of Bahamian Studies, 29(2), 75-100. https://doi.org/10.15362/ijbs.v29i2.545

Readers react to gay pride weekend. (2014, August 28). The Tribune. http://www.tribune242.com/news/2014/aug/28/readers-react-to-gay-pride-weekend/

Rolle, L. (2024, May 4). Woman accused of assaulting ex-girlfriend with knife. The Tribune. http://www.tribune242.com/news/2024/may/04/woman-accused-assaulting-ex-girlfriend-knife/?news

Rolle, L. (2025, January 31). Marital rape laws not expected by end of term. The Tribune. https://www.tribune242.com/news/2025/jan/31/marital-rape-laws-not-expected-by-end-of-term/

Rolle, R. (2019, October 16). End the taboos: McAlpine - it’s time for national debate on gay civil unions and abortion. The Tribune. http://www.tribune242.com/news/2019/oct/16/end-taboos-mcalpine-its-time-national-debate-gay-m/

Rothmann, J., & Simmonds, S. (2015). ‘Othering’ non-normative sexualities through objectification of ‘the homosexual’: Discursive discrimination by pre-service teachers. Agenda, 29(1), 116–126. https://doi.org/10.1080/10130950.2015.1010288

Scott, S. B., Rhoades, G. K., Stanley, S. M., Allen, E. S., & Markman, H. J. (2013). Reasons for divorce and recollections of premarital intervention: Implications for improving relationship education. Couple & Family Psychology, 2(2), 131–145. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0032025

Sherin, K. M., Sinacore, J. M., Li, X. Q., Zitter, R. E., & Shakil, A. (1998). HITS: A short domestic violence screening tool for use in a family practice setting. Family Medicine, 30(7), 508–512. http://www.stfm.org/fmhub/FULLPDF/JULYAUG98/cram1.pdf

Spencer, C. M., Stith, S. M., & Cafferky, B. (2019). Risk markers for physical intimate partner violence victimization: A meta-analysis. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 44, 8–17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2018.10.009

Strachan, M. (2022, August 22). Insight: Will our politicians ever tackle the issue of marital rape? The Tribune. http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/aug/22/insight-will-our-politicians-ever-tackle-issue-mar/

Storr, J. (2023). Gender inequality in The Bahamas: Violence, media, and law. Bloomsbury.

Turnquest, A. (2014, February 17). Frustration at 8-year divorce settlement. The Tribune. http://www.tribune242.com/news/2014/feb/17/frustration-8-year-divorce-settlement/

U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Men who have sex with men (MSM). https://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment-guidelines/msm.htm#print

U. S. Department of State. (2024). The Bahamas 2023 human rights report. https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/528267_BAHAMAS-2023-HUMAN-RIGHTS-REPORT.pdf

Wallace, A. (2022, July 20). Mr Davis - let’s make sure everyone who needs to has their say in your big plan. The Tribune. https://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/jul/20/alicia-wallace-mr-davis-lets-make-sure-everyone-wh/

Waugh, E., Myhre, D., Beauvais, C., Thériault, G., Bell, N. R., Dickinson, J. A., Grad, R., Singh, H., & Szafran, O. (2021). Preventive screening in women who have sex with women. Canadian Family Physician, 67, 830–836. https://www.cfp.ca/content/67/11/830.abstract

Williams v. Williams (2024). https://courts.bs/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Judgment-Williams-V.-Williams-.pdf

Downloads

Published

2026-02-16

How to Cite

Fielding, W. J., & Moxey-Adderley, T. E. (2026). A description of intimate partnerships in The Bahamas and their association with adult aggression and other experiences. International Journal of Bahamian Studies, 31(2), 31–48. https://doi.org/10.15362/ijbs.v31i2.635