Hearing the Voices from Male Victims and Survivors

of Intimate Partner Violence Presented at the World Conference on Social Work and Social Development

Venus Tsui, PhD, MSWWorden School of Social ServiceOur Lady of the Lake University

vtsui@ollusa.edu

Monit Cheung, PhD, LCSWGraduate College of Social Work

University of Houstonmcheung@uh.edu

July 9, 2012

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All types of abuse Between two people in a close relationship, Power and Control (APA, 2001; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,

2006).

The Current Research: IPA against men

Definition of Intimate Partner Abuse (IPA)

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BackgroundConceptual FrameworkMethodFindingsDiscussion Implications

AGENDA

Cheung & Tsui, 2011

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WHY studyIPA against

men ?

Cheung & Tsui, 2011

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1. Alarming statistics2. Insufficient Services3. Men’s low rate of reporting abuse &

utilizing professional services4. Bias & discrimination against male

victims5. Lack of empirical data and research6. Supportive findings from preliminary

studies

BACKGROUND

Cheung & Tsui, 2011

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BACKGROUND

US Canada UK

1.5 million women (4.7%) and 835,000 men (3.2%) experienced raped or physical assault

(age:18 or older)

653,000 women (7%) and 546,000 men (6%) experienced spousal abuse (age: 15 or older)

4.3 million women (26.7%) and 2.7 million men (17.1%) experienced partner abuse. (age: 16-59)

National Violence Against Women Survey (Tjaden & Theonnes, 2000)

Statistics Canada (Department of Justice Canada, 2009)

The British Crime Survey (The Mankind Initiative, 2009)

Prevalence of Male Victims in IPA

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Gender Difference in Reporting Abuse Female victims (4 times) > male victims of

IPA (81% vs 19%) (Brown, 2004)

Men prefer anonymous channels (such as telephone interviews, radio program) (Hines, Brown and Dunning, 2007; Cheung, 2009)

=> Data collection (e.g., online survey) (Wright, 2005)

BACKGROUNDD

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BACKGROUNDSupporting Evidence from Preliminary Studies

An internet-based study found only 19 male-focused services and 4 shelters in the US (Cheung, Leung, & Tsui, 2009)

An online survey: 1/4 of the respondents revealed male victims did NOT utilize social services at all (Tsui et al., 2009).

Barriers: Shame, Denial, Fear, Stigmatization, etc.

=> VERY FEW SERVICES being provided to male victims=> BARRIERS to help-seeking by men

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1. Explore the extent of service use & help-seeking sources

2. Examine the socialization factors, social-network orientation, service use, helpers, abuse experience and sociodemographic variables and their relationship to help-seeking behaviors in male victims of IPA.

3. Identify barriers and facilitators to help-seeking for male victims of IPA, explore the experience of abused men in IPA and their struggles in the help-seeking process.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

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Figure 1. A Research Framework for Investigating Help-Seeking Behaviors among Male Victims in Intimate Partner Abuse

Theoretical Perspectives

•Gender Role Socialization

•Social Construction of Masculinity

•Social Psychology of Help-Seeking

•Social Isolation

Social & Psychological Factors

•Socialization• Social-Network

Orientation• Service Use

•Helpers•Abuse Experience

Sociodemographics

age, ethnicity,

education, marital status, etc.

Help-Seeking Behaviors

Formal Sources of Support

Informal Sources of Support

Not seeking any form of help

Use of Services

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORKD

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HOW?

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RESEARCH DESIGN & METHODS Anonymous online self-administered survey

www.surveymonkey.com/s/KS9WG96 www.menweb.org/battered

A mixed methods approach A national study (exploratory) Non-probability Sampling: Convenience, Purposive

& Snowball Sampling Sample: Male Victims (include survivors), age 18

or above, living in the US. Data Collection: between March 2010 and

February, 2012 Approval of the University of Houston IRB

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RESULTS

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Figure 2. Final Sample (N = 220)

RESULTSD

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Demographic Characteristics (N = 220) Most were White (163, 74%) Mean Age: 43 Female partners (200, 91%) More than one-third (83, 38%) were divorced/

separated Two-thirds had children (157, 71%) More than half (122, 56%) achieved college

graduate level or above Approximately two-thirds (129, 59%) were

employed full time Majority were US born (182, 83%) and non-US

born lived in the US for 12.5 years on average

RESULTSD

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Current: 54% (118); In the Past: 46% (102)

Figure 3. Types of Abuse experienced by the Respondents

RESULTS: ABUSE EXPERIENCE (N=220)D

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Utilization: Three-fourths (166) used social services Helpfulness: Overall perceived to be not helpful (< 3 based on a 5-pt scale) Figure 4. Service Utilization Figure 5. Service Helpfulness

Note: Average responses from 80 respondents on a 5-point scale (1=very insufficient & 5=very sufficient)

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RESULTS: SERVICE USE (N=220)

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Utilization: 94% (207) approached helpers; preferred informal except religious leaders) to formal help.Helpfulness: informal helpers are more helpful (average = 3.4) than formal helpers (2.6) (based on 5-pt scale)

Figure 6. Helpers Figure 7. Helpers’ Helpfulness

Note: Average responses from 80 respondents on a 5-point scale (1=very insufficient & 5=very sufficient)

RESULTS: HELP-SEEKING SOURCE (N=220)

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RESULTS: BARRIERS & FACILITATORS (N=28) (QUALITATIVE FINDINGS)

Barriers

Facilitators

Word Count

4700 520

# Responses

82 22

# Themes or Categories

8 4

MORE BARRIERS than Facilitators

9 time

s4

times2

times

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RESULTS: QUALITATIVE (N=68) Five Contextual Barriers

Three Personal Barriers

1. Lack of service availability & accessibility

1. Shame and embarrassment

2. Low levels of helpfulness for social services & helpers

2. Lack of knowledge and awareness of IPA

3. Social stigma & isolation: Bias against & non- acceptance of male victims

3. Fear

4. Distrust of law enforcement & legal system

5. Affordability of professional services.

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RESULTS: QUALITATIVE (N=68)

Three Contextual Facilitators

One Personal Facilitator

Effective professional help

Trustful & supportive family & friends.

Free & affordable legal services

Internet access

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BARRIERS TO HELP-SEEKING MODEL FOR IPA MALE VICTIMS

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MEN’S VOICES ABOUT SEEKING HELP All the DV programs I phoned said: “We’re here to

help women.”’ “I feel too ashamed to seek social services.” “I do not get the impression that are either able or

willing to help.” “[I] went to pastor at church and was not believed.

Quit looking for help.”

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Stories Written in the Survey

An Example This is my story with my ex-wife

that I have never told anyone…until after five years of our separation.

Please listen, and please

help.

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Hear Their Voices: A Composite Narrative From Abused Men

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A Composite Narrative from Abused Men

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RESULTS: QUALITATIVE (N =68)

Four Major Findings1. Negative psychological effects2. History of child abuse & family history of abuse3. Mental & substance abuse problems of respondents’ partner4. Co-occurrence of child abuse and spousal abuse

Men’s Concerns1.Children2.Legal consequences

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Threats to Internal Validity Threats to External Validity Self-administered survey Only English version

STRENGTHS

LIMITATIONSD

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A TOP TEN LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO HELP MALE VICTIMS OF IPA

1. Acknowledge the existence of male victims who need help and support.

2. Acknowledge the IPA male victims’ service needs.

3. Reform the VAWA policy to include gender-neutral language for the victims.

4. Provide training for law enforcement and legal personnel and helping professionals.

5. Advocate gender-inclusive and gender-sensitive approach for practice and research.

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A TOP TEN LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO HELP MALE VICTIMS OF IPA

6. Dispel myths and misconceptions by strengthening public awareness on IPA against men.

7. Help men reframe and redefine masculinity

8. Engage in anonymity-based approach to service provision

9. Provide more funding resources and culturally sensitive services for male victims

10. Conduct more empirical-based research, both quantitative and qualitative.

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INTIMATE PARTNER ABUSE

RESOURCE GUIDE

http://www.sw.uh.edu/community/cwep/title-iv-e/index.php

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SOCIAL WORK MISSION & VALUESD

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“Victims, regardless of their gender,

need support and help.”

ZERO TOLERANCE!

INTIMATE PARTNER ABUSE

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THANK YOU!

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