One in Three Australian Men Say They Have Committed Intimate Partner Abuse, World-First Research Finds
One in three Australian men has reported committing domestic violence, world-first research has found – and the same research has identified new ways to tackle it.
The Australian Institute of Family Studies found fostering affectionate relationships between sons and fathers (or father figures) was associated with reducing the risk of intimate partner violence (IPV) by as much as 48%.
The AIFS Ten To Men Australian Longitudinal Study on Male Health is the largest of its kind. It started tracking about 16,000 boys and men in 2013-14, and in 2023-24 added another 10,000 men to the database.
The definition of intimate partner violence includes emotional as well as physical abuse.
Having good social supports is another protective factor, according to the AIFS report based on the study’s robust data up to 2022. Men who reported high levels of social support all the time in 2013-14 were 26% less likely to report committing IPV by 2022.
Mental health issues such as depression can increase the incidence of violence. Men with moderate or severe depressive symptoms in 2013-14 were 62% more likely to report committing IPV by 2022, while those with mild depressive symptoms were 32% more likely. Those who had experienced suicidal thoughts, plans or attempts were 47% more likely.
The report said it was “essential to acknowledge that only a minority of men experiencing depressive symptoms will later use [IPV]”...
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