Around one in three Australian men report having used intimate partner violence, a groundbreaking longitudinal study has found.
The world-first research on intimate partner violence from the Australian Institute of Family Studies, titled Ten to Men, highlights a nationwide increase of intimate partner violence (IPV), as well as ways to tackle the problem.
Within the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children 2022–2032, intimate partner violence is defined as: Any behaviour within an intimate relationship (including current or past marriages, domestic partnerships or dates) that causes physical, sexual or psychological harm … Intimate partner violence can occur outside of a domestic setting, such as in public, and between 2 people that do not live together.
According to the Ten to Men research, around 120,000 Australian men start using IPV each year, on average.
Emotional-type abuse (32 per cent by 2022) was the most common form of IPV used, followed by physical violence (9 per cent by 2022) and sexual abuse (2 per cent by 2013-14).
Ten to Men respondents were surveyed on questions such as ‘Have you ever behaved in a manner that has made a partner feel frightened or anxious?’ (emotional-type abuse) and ‘Have you ever hit, slapped, kicked or otherwise physically hurt a partner when you were angry?’ (physical violence).
Men with depressive symptoms and those who had reported suicide related experiences by 2013-14 were more likely to have started using intimate partner violence by 2022.
Also by 2022, 25 per cent of men reported ever using and experiencing IPV, which is more than twice the proportion who reported ever using violence but never experiencing it (10 per cent).
The findings highlight the importance of social support and paternal affection as protective measures against IPV use.
Men with higher levels of social support in 2013-14 were 26 per cent less likely to start using IPV by 2022, compared to men with lower levels of social support.
Even more significantly, men who strongly agreed that they received affection from a father or father figure during childhood were 48 per cent less likely to ever use IPV, compared to men who strongly disagreed.
“Policy and practice changes that focus on providing integrated mental health support for men, and programs that promote the importance of social support as well as good quality relationships between fathers and their sons could contribute to a reduction in men’s use of intimate partner violence,” the report says.
“Depressive symptoms and a lack of social connection aren’t an excuse by any means, as violence is always a choice – but they do signal where we could be building more supports around men early on, for the sake of their future partners, children and communities,” said Dr Sean Martin, the Ten to Men Program Lead.
Speaking to the need to achieve the National Plan objective to end gender-based violence in a generation, Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence (DFSV) Commissioner Micaela Cronin said it’s “critical that we better understand pathways into using violence and very importantly, both the protective factors and pathways out of using violence. This is a key priority for the DFSV Commission, and we have called out the importance of building the evidence base about men who use violence.”
“This research delivers valuable insights, and the findings provide important guidance for governments on where to target action and investment. I commend AIFS on this important research and look forward to seeing these insights turned into action.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au for online chat and video call services.
If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit http://www.ntv.org.au.
Feeling worried or no good? No shame, no judgement, safe place to yarn. Speak to a 13YARN Crisis Supporter, call 13 92 76. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.