Male victims of intimate partner abuse: use and helpfulness of services

Data obtained from a national study of male victims or survivors of intimate partner abuse (IPA) indicate that the experience (current or past) of abuse and with service use may predict a positive perception toward help seeking. However, marital status and a tendency to minimize problems may predict negative attitudes toward help seeking. Empirical evidence from this mixed-method study suggests that male victims face many interpersonal and societal obstacles. Feeling uncomfortable when requesting assistance, men in IPA situations are affected by a masking factor that causes them to hide their situation and contributes to a misconception factor that causes people to treat men as the sole perpetrator. Although men are eligible, services may not be perceived as being available or helpful. The study yields important implications for social work practice, and the findings result in several recommendations for increased awareness about IPA, advocacy for gender-inclusive services, revision of laws and policies, increased research, and emphasis on funded and anonymous services.