Why and How Do Men Experience Intimate Partner Violence Victimization? An Integrated Multilevel Theoretical Framework

Area of Science:

• Sociology
• Criminology
• Gender Studies

Background:

• Research on female-to-male intimate partner violence (IPV) is limited.
• Existing studies often overlook men's experiences with IPV.
• Understanding IPV against men requires examining national contexts and gender dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the factors contributing to men's IPV victimization.
• To identify different typologies of men's IPV experiences.
• To analyze the relationship between gender equality and men's IPV victimization.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a multilevel theoretical framework combining social structure, social learning, feminist, and victim-offender overlap perspectives.
• Analyzed data from 3,586 heterosexual male college students across 29 countries.
• Employed multilevel mediation analyses to examine mediating factors.

Main Results:

• Men's perpetration of IPV and belief in male dominance fully mediated the link between gender equality and men's victimization.
• In less gender-equal societies, men perpetrating IPV and holding male dominance beliefs were more likely to experience it.
• Men's IPV victimization in less gender-equal contexts often represented women's violent resistance, while in more gender-equal contexts, it was situational couple violence.

Conclusions:

• Gender equality may not directly impact men's IPV victimization but influences the context and nature of violence.
• Promoting gender equality can reduce IPV victimization for both men and women.
• Addressing gender norms and power dynamics is crucial for preventing men's IPV.