Presented by: Denise Hines, PhD
George Mason University

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Research on intimate partner violence (IPV) has historically centered on female victims, contributing to limited recognition of men’s victimization and insufficient attention to their experiences within research, service, and policy contexts. This presentation synthesizes several decades of empirical evidence documenting male victimization in IPV, drawing on national population-based prevalence studies as well as qualitative and quantitative research on men’s lived experiences of abuse. National survey data indicate that substantial proportions of men experience physical, psychological, and coercive forms of IPV across the life course. Beyond prevalence, men’s accounts reveal complex patterns of victimization that often include chronic psychological abuse, controlling behaviors, threats, physical violence, and sexual violence. The presentation also examines men’s help-seeking behaviors and barriers to obtaining support. Both internal barriers (e.g., shame, stigma, concerns about masculinity, and self-blame) and external barriers (e.g., disbelief, minimization, gender bias within systems, and limited availability of services for men) shape men’s decisions to seek assistance and their experiences when they do so. These obstacles frequently result in delayed disclosure or reliance on informal coping strategies rather than formal support.
The mental and physical health consequences of IPV victimization among men will be reviewed, with particular attention to posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, suicidality, and physical health conditions such as cardiovascular problems. Evidence suggests that IPV exposure is associated with substantial psychological distress and chronic health risks, even when victimization is not recognized or labeled as abuse.
The presentation concludes by discussing implications for clinical practice, emphasizing the importance of awareness, assessment, and attunement to male IPV victimization. These implications are framed to inform clinicians’ conceptualization and responsiveness rather than to provide clinical skills training.

Learning Objective:
At the conclusion of this lecture, participants will be able to list one empirical finding about male victimization in intimate partner violence in each of the following areas: prevalence, victimization experiences, help-seeking barriers, and associated mental and physical health outcomes.

Dr. Denise Hines, PhD, is the Elisabeth Shirley Enochs Endowed Professor of Social Work in the College of Public Health at George Mason University. Her research focuses on the causes, consequences, and prevention of intimate partner violence (IPV), with particular emphasis on male victims, an under-recognized and understudied population. Dr. Hines has conducted extensive research on men’s experiences of IPV, help-seeking, mental health outcomes, and interactions with service and legal systems. Her work has been supported by the National Institute of Mental Health, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, and other funders. She has authored more than 95 peer-reviewed publications and three books on family violence, including Family Violence in the United States (3rd ed.). ScholarGPS ranks Dr. Hines among the top 0.05% of lifetime scholars in violence research, and she regularly presents to practitioners, policymakers, and national organizations on IPV-related issues.