Estimates from the National Family Violence Surveys (Straus & Gelles, 1990) show that within a given year, 12% of men sustain physical aggression from their intimate female partners and 4% of the male population is severely assaulted by their partners. In addition, men who sustain intimate partner violence (IPV) account for 40% of all injuries due to IPV, 38% of all victims who lose time from work, and 31% of all victims who fear bodily harm (calculated from the National Violence Against Women Survey, Tjaden & Thoennes, 2000). Preliminary research shows men who sustain IPV are likely to have mental health problems, including depression, stress, and psychosomatic symptoms. Thus, IPV against men can be considered a significant health problem in this country, but no study has yet systemically investigated the experiences of men who seek help for IPV victimization. That is, we know little about the predictors of IPV against male help-seekers, the dynamics of their intimate partner relationships, or the mental health concerns of men who sustain IPV and seek help. In addition, because IPV against men is not well recognized, some men who seek help report experiencing institutional barriers to receiving assistance, which could exacerbate any pre-existing mental health problems. In this study, we take a preliminary step toward closing these gaps in the family violence research by interviewing a national sample of 500 men who are seeking assistance from a helpline specializing in male IPV victimization and a population-based national sample of 500 men.
The specific aims of this project are to: (1) describe the experiences of men who sustain IPV and seek help; (2) compare their experiences and mental health concerns with those of men from a population-based sample; (3) test the coercive control theory as it applies to IPV against men; (4) investigate the physical and mental health status, including PTSD and alcohol/substance abuse, of men who sustain IPV and seek help; and (5) describe potential institutional barriers to men who sustain IPV and seek help, as well as any potential associations between the experience of these barriers and mental health. - PHS Agency Application Relevance to Public Health The National Violence Against Women Survey showed that intimate partner violence (IPV) by women against men accounts for 40% of all injuries due to IPV during a one-year time period, 27% of all injuries requiring medical attention, and 31% of all victims who fear bodily harm. There is evidence that IPV sustained by men is associated with various physical and mental health problems in men, such as physical injuries, depression, stress, psychosomatic symptoms, and general psychological distress. Thus, IPV against men, like other forms of family violence, can be considered a significant public health and mental health problem in this country; however, in order to effectively treat and prevent all types of family violence, researchers, service providers, and public and mental health practitioners must learn more about IPV against men. ? ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
1R21MH074590-01A2
Application #
7314381
Study Section
Psychosocial Development, Risk and Prevention Study Section (PDRP)
Program Officer
Tuma, Farris K
Project Start
2007-09-10
Project End
2009-08-31
Budget Start
2007-09-10
Budget End
2008-08-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2007
Total Cost
$257,467
Indirect Cost
Name
Clark University (Worcester, MA)
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
957447782
City
Worcester
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
01610
Hines, Denise A; Douglas, Emily M (2013) Predicting potentially life-threatening partner violence by women toward men: a preliminary analysis. Violence Vict 28:751-71
Hines, Denise A; Douglas, Emily M (2012) Alcohol and drug abuse in men who sustain intimate partner violence. Aggress Behav 38:31-46
Douglas, Emily M; Hines, Denise A; McCarthy, Sean C (2012) Men who sustain female-to-male partner violence: factors associated with where they seek help and how they rate those resources. Violence Vict 27:871-94
Hines, Denise A; Douglas, Emily M (2011) Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Men Who Sustain Intimate Partner Violence: A Study of Helpseeking and Community Samples. Psychol Men Masc 12:112-127
Douglas, Emily M; Hines, Denise A (2011) The Helpseeking Experiences of Men Who Sustain Intimate Partner Violence: An Overlooked Population and Implications for Practice. J Fam Violence 26:473-485
Hines, Denise A; Douglas, Emily M (2011) Understanding the Use of Violence Among Men Who Sustain Intimate Terrorism. Partner Abuse 2:259-283
Hines, Denise A; Douglas, Emily M (2010) Intimate Terrorism by Women Towards Men: Does it Exist? J Aggress Confl Peace Res 2:36-56
Hines, Denise A; Douglas, Emily M; Mahmood, Sehar (2010) The Effects of Survey Administration on Disclosure Rates to Sensitive Items Among Men: A Comparison of an Internet Panel Sample with a RDD Telephone Sample. Comput Human Behav 26:1327-1335
Hines, Denise A; Douglas, Emily M (2010) A Closer Look at Men Who Sustain Intimate Terrorism by Women. Partner Abuse 1:286-313