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Friday, Jun 06, 2025
Outside the box.
Prevalence of Intimate Partner Violence Among Australian Men Revealed in New Study
A national survey finds over one-third of Australian men aged 18 to 65 have reported using intimate partner violence, highlighting critical mental health and familial relationship factors.
A recent longitudinal study conducted by the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) has revealed concerning statistics related to intimate partner violence among Australian men.
The study, which re-surveyed participants from an initial 2013/14 assessment in 2022, has produced the first national estimate of male intimate partner violence perpetration in Australia.
It found that more than one in three men aged 18 to 65 have engaged in such violence at some point in their lives, reflecting an increase from one in four reported in the previous survey.
The findings indicate that approximately 120,000 men in Australia are beginning to use violence for the first time each year.
Emotional abuse emerged as the most frequently reported form of intimate partner violence, with 32 percent of men acknowledging that they had made an intimate partner feel 'frightened or anxious'.
In contrast, 9 percent of men reported instances of physical aggression, including hitting or slapping an intimate partner out of anger.
The study also examined underlying factors contributing to men's use of violence, with particular emphasis on mental health and paternal relationships.
Men suffering from moderate or severe depressive symptoms were found to be 62 percent more likely to engage in intimate partner violence.
While the study did not claim a direct causal relationship, Micaela Cronin, the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner, noted the importance of considering mental health conditions in discussions of violence.
Furthermore, the quality of father-son relationships was identified as a critical protective factor.
Men who reported having a positive relationship with their father or father figure characterized by affection were 48 percent less likely to have used violence in intimate partnerships.
Cronin remarked that having open, supportive conversations about feelings within these relationships could help deter violent behavior later in life.
The longitudinal data provides valuable insights that could inform the development of effective policies and intervention programs aimed at young men.
Co-author Sean Martin emphasized the necessity of understanding the risk factors associated with these behaviors.
In response to the report's findings, Tanya Plibersek, the newly appointed Social Services Minister, acknowledged the concerning trend but underscored the necessity for investment in frontline services that support victims while also addressing the root causes of violent behavior.
Plibersek indicated that the Labor government is committing an additional $1 billion towards mental health services, which includes the establishment of Medicare walk-in mental health clinics.
The research forms part of the broader Ten to Men study into men's health, which has surveyed over 16,000 boys and men since its inception in 2013, with plans to add another 10,000 participants in 2024-25.
The study, which re-surveyed participants from an initial 2013/14 assessment in 2022, has produced the first national estimate of male intimate partner violence perpetration in Australia.
It found that more than one in three men aged 18 to 65 have engaged in such violence at some point in their lives, reflecting an increase from one in four reported in the previous survey.
The findings indicate that approximately 120,000 men in Australia are beginning to use violence for the first time each year.
Emotional abuse emerged as the most frequently reported form of intimate partner violence, with 32 percent of men acknowledging that they had made an intimate partner feel 'frightened or anxious'.
In contrast, 9 percent of men reported instances of physical aggression, including hitting or slapping an intimate partner out of anger.
The study also examined underlying factors contributing to men's use of violence, with particular emphasis on mental health and paternal relationships.
Men suffering from moderate or severe depressive symptoms were found to be 62 percent more likely to engage in intimate partner violence.
While the study did not claim a direct causal relationship, Micaela Cronin, the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner, noted the importance of considering mental health conditions in discussions of violence.
Furthermore, the quality of father-son relationships was identified as a critical protective factor.
Men who reported having a positive relationship with their father or father figure characterized by affection were 48 percent less likely to have used violence in intimate partnerships.
Cronin remarked that having open, supportive conversations about feelings within these relationships could help deter violent behavior later in life.
The longitudinal data provides valuable insights that could inform the development of effective policies and intervention programs aimed at young men.
Co-author Sean Martin emphasized the necessity of understanding the risk factors associated with these behaviors.
In response to the report's findings, Tanya Plibersek, the newly appointed Social Services Minister, acknowledged the concerning trend but underscored the necessity for investment in frontline services that support victims while also addressing the root causes of violent behavior.
Plibersek indicated that the Labor government is committing an additional $1 billion towards mental health services, which includes the establishment of Medicare walk-in mental health clinics.
The research forms part of the broader Ten to Men study into men's health, which has surveyed over 16,000 boys and men since its inception in 2013, with plans to add another 10,000 participants in 2024-25.