Back to Evidence & Resource Library

Prevalence of intimate partner violence and beliefs about partner violence screening among young men

T.B. Walsh, R.C. Seabrook, R.M. Tolman, S.J. Lee, V. Singh
Ann Fam Med

Purpose: Few clinical guidelines focus on how physicians can identify intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration or victimization among male patients, and little is known of men’s experiences and beliefs regarding screening in health care settings. Our objective was to determine prevalence of men’s experiences with IPV screening in health care settings and associations with men’s beliefs regarding health care clinician identification of IPV. Methods: Using a cross-sectional online survey of a nationally representative sample of 916 men aged 18-35 years, we conducted survey-weighted descriptive analyses to determine IPV prevalence, screening experiences and beliefs, and multivariate logistic regression to examine associations of demographics, IPV perpetration, and IPV victimization with men’s screening experiences and beliefs. Results: Of 916 men surveyed, 19% reported perpetration and 27% reported victimization in relationship with current or previous spouse/partner, 90% believed health care clinicians should ask about perpetration, 92% believed health care clinicians should ask about victimization, but only 11% had been asked about perpetration and 13% about victimization. Beliefs regarding IPV were associated with African American non-Hispanic race, IPV perpetration, and IPV victimization. Experiences being asked about IPV were associated with educational attainment and IPV perpetration. Conclusions: Among young US men, 9 in 10 support IPV identification by health care clinicians, nearly 1 in 5 report using IPV, but only about 1 in 10 report health care clinicians asking about IPV. These represent missed opportunities for health care IPV identification. Beliefs and experiences regarding health care IPV identification vary by race, education, and men’s IPV perpetration and victimization. These disparities can inform tailored health care identification approaches.

Walsh TB, Seabrook RC, Tolman RM, Lee SJ, Singh V. Prevalence of intimate partner violence and beliefs about partner violence screening among young men. Ann Fam Med. 2020;18(4):303-308. doi:10.1370/afm.2536

View the Resource
Publication year
Resource type
Peer Reviewed Research
Social Determinant of Health
Violence/Safety
Study design
Other Study Design
Keywords