A Closer Look at Men Who Sustain Intimate Terrorism by Women
Open accessAbstract
Over 30 years of research has established that both men and women are capable of sustaining intimate partner violence (IPV) by their opposite-sex partners, yet little research has examined men’s experiences in such relationships. Some experts in the field have forwarded assumptions about men who sustain IPV — for example, that the abuse they experience is trivial or humorous and of no consequence and that, if their abuse was severe enough, they have the financial and psychological resources to easily leave the relationship — but these assumptions have little data to support them. The present study is an in-depth, descriptive examination of 302 men who sustained severe IPV from their women partners within the previous year and sought help. We present information on their demographics, overall mental health, and the types and frequency of various forms of physical and psychological IPV they sustained. We also provide both quantitative and qualitative information about their last physical argument and their reasons for staying in the relationship. It is concluded that, contrary to many assumptions about these men, the IPV they sustain is quite severe and both mentally and physically damaging; their most frequent response to their partner’s IPV is to get away from her; and they are often blocked in their efforts to leave, sometimes physically, but more often because of strong psychological and emotional ties to their partners and especially their children. These results are discussed in terms of their implications for policy and practice.
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Three studies recruited MSM (gay, bisexual and transgender men), five recruited heterosexual men, and four recruited men of diverse sexuality or did not specify sexuality.
“Three studies recruited MSM (gay, bisexual and transgender men),11 13 22 five studies recruited heterosexual men,14–18 and four studies recruited men of diverse sexuality or did not specify sexuality.12 18 20 21”
From Help-seeking by male victims of domestic violence and abuse (DVA): a systematic review and qualitative evidence synthesis (2019) · cites this paper as [14]
The Method (Participants and Procedure; page not provided) describes a study of men who had experienced violence from a woman partner. The Method (Measures; page not provided) lists demographic questions but does not identify participants’ sexual orientation. The paper therefore fits the citing sentence’s ‘did not specify sexuality’ category, but it does not establish its separate classification as a study of heterosexual men; the counts across studies are the citing authors’ synthesis. (LLM, conf=0.84)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredIn two included studies of heterosexual men, commitment to relationship and concern for the perpetrator of the abuse were barriers to help-seeking.
“Two of the included studies of heterosexual men discussed commitment to their relationship and concern for the perpetrator of the abuse as both barriers to help-seeking.14 20”
From Help-seeking by male victims of domestic violence and abuse (DVA): a systematic review and qualitative evidence synthesis (2019) · cites this paper as [14]
The Results section (“What Prevents Them From Leaving?”; page unavailable) identifies commitment to marriage and concern for a partner’s well-being as reasons men remained in abusive relationships. The paper does not identify those reasons as barriers to help-seeking; it discusses different barriers to obtaining help. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThere is some mention of ethnic barriers to help seeking but the majority of the men in the studies were of White background with the exception of the Frierson study.
“There is some mention of ethnic barriers [19] to help seeking but the majority of the men in the studies were of White background with the exception of the Frierson study [18].”
From Help seeking by male victims of domestic violence and abuse: an example of an integrated mixed methods synthesis of systematic review evidence defining methodological terms (2020) · cites this paper as [19]
The Discussion (page not provided) reports an overrepresentation of White men in this study and suggests that Black or Hispanic men may be less likely to seek help or participate in research. It does not establish the ethnic composition of the other studies or identify the Frierson study as an exception. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredLegal and housing advice would be welcome by male victims of DVA.
“This suggests that legal and housing advice would be welcome [19, 25].”
From Help seeking by male victims of domestic violence and abuse: an example of an integrated mixed methods synthesis of systematic review evidence defining methodological terms (2020) · cites this paper as [19]
The Results section (‘What Prevents Them From Leaving?’, page unavailable) reports that over half of the men who had not left had no place to go, and it describes concerns about custody and the consequences of leaving. These findings make a need for housing and legal help plausible, but the paper does not report that the men wanted or would welcome advice in either area. (LLM, conf=0.78)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredAnother common expression of help was around the desire to help their partner, potentially getting their partners help for their behaviour.
“Another common expression of help was around the desire to help their partner. In other words, potentially getting their partners help for their behaviour [19].”
From Help seeking by male victims of domestic violence and abuse: an example of an integrated mixed methods synthesis of systematic review evidence defining methodological terms (2020) · cites this paper as [19]
In Results, under “What Prevents Them From Leaving?” (page unavailable), one man says he hoped to get help for his partner’s condition, supporting the possibility described in the cited sentence. The paper presents this as an example of feeling it was morally wrong to leave, not as evidence that getting help for a partner was a common expression of help-seeking. (LLM, conf=0.82)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
The previous systematic review identified twelve relevant primary-level qualitative interview and survey studies of the experiences of male victims of domestic violence and abuse.
“The systematic review also identified twelve relevant primary-level qualitative interview and survey studies of the experiences of male victims of DVA [16–27] (Table 4).”
Two included studies were predominantly quantitative in design.
“However two studies were predominantly quantitative in design,14 19”
From Help-seeking by male victims of domestic violence and abuse (DVA): a systematic review and qualitative evidence synthesis (2019) · cites this paper as [14]
Three included studies had potentially inadequate recruitment strategies.
“three studies had potentially inadequate recruitment strategies,14 19 21”
From Help-seeking by male victims of domestic violence and abuse (DVA): a systematic review and qualitative evidence synthesis (2019) · cites this paper as [14]
The currency of the abusive relationship(s) was not well recorded, with the exception of three studies.
“The currency of the abusive relationship(s) was not well recorded, with the exception of three studies.14 15 19”
From Help-seeking by male victims of domestic violence and abuse (DVA): a systematic review and qualitative evidence synthesis (2019) · cites this paper as [14]
One of the most recurrent fears was losing custody of their children.
“One of the most recurrent fears was losing custody of their children.14 15 20”
From Help-seeking by male victims of domestic violence and abuse (DVA): a systematic review and qualitative evidence synthesis (2019) · cites this paper as [14]
Commitment to relationship was closely linked to fear of losing contact with children.
“Commitment to the relationship was closely linked to the fear of losing contact with children as described above in relation to fear of disclosure.14 15 20”
From Help-seeking by male victims of domestic violence and abuse (DVA): a systematic review and qualitative evidence synthesis (2019) · cites this paper as [14]
The searches identified 12 relevant qualitative studies.
“The searches identified 12 relevant qualitative studies (figure 1).11–22”
From Help-seeking by male victims of domestic violence and abuse (DVA): a systematic review and qualitative evidence synthesis (2019) · cites this paper as [14]
The Method (Participants and Procedure; page not available in our copy) describes recruiting 302 men for a survey, not searching for qualitative studies. Searches of our copy for the number 12, qualitative studies, and study-selection searches found no passage reporting that 12 relevant studies were identified. (LLM, conf=0.76)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
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References 50 · Cited by 169
Research works printed but not linked: 2
- Dutton DG Painter SL Traumatic bonding: The development of emotional attachments in battered women and other relationships of intermittent abuse. Victimology: An International Journal 1981 6 1–4 139 155
- Medeiros RA Straus MA Hamel J Nicholls T Risk factors for physical violence between dating partners: Implications for gender-inclusive prevention and treatment of family violence. Family interventions in domestic violence: A handbook of gender-inclusive theory and treatment 2006 59 85 Springer Publishing New York
- Authors
- Hines, D. A., & Douglas, E. M.
- Affiliations
- Clark University (US)
- Bridgewater State University (US)
- Venue
- Partner Abuse
- Publisher
- Springer Publishing Company
- Published
- 2010-07
- Volume
- 1
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 286-313
- ISSN
- 1946-6560 (ISSN-L)
- 1946-6579
- PMC
- PMC2913504
- OpenAlex
- W2075396633
- Cited by
- 169
- References
- 50
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 4.58
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Partner Abuse (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Mental Health (R21MH074590)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Health › Intimate Partner and Family Violence
- Social Sciences › Demography › Elder Abuse and Neglect
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Stalking, Cyberstalking, and Harassment
- Keywords
- intimate partner violence, intimate terrorism, women offenders, physical abuse, psychological violence, reasons for staying in abusive relationships, leaving abusive relationships, help-seeking
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