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Hearing the Voices from Male Victims and Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence Presented at the World Conference on Social Work and Social Development. Venus Tsui, PhD, MSW Worden School of Social Service Our Lady of the Lake University vtsui@ollusa.edu Monit Cheung, PhD, LCSW
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Hearing the Voices from Male Victims and Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence Presented at the World Conference on Social Work and Social Development Venus Tsui, PhD, MSW Worden School of Social Service Our Lady of the Lake University vtsui@ollusa.edu Monit Cheung, PhD, LCSW Graduate College of Social Work University of Houston mcheung@uh.edu July 9, 2012
Definition of Intimate Partner Abuse (IPA) • All types of abuse • Between two people in a close relationship, • Power and Control (APA, 2001; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2006). The Current Research: IPA against men Drs. Tsui & Cheung
AGENDA • Background • Conceptual Framework • Method • Findings • Discussion • Implications Drs. Tsui & Cheung Cheung & Tsui, 2011
WHY study IPA against men ? Drs. Tsui & Cheung Cheung & Tsui, 2011
Background • Alarming statistics • Insufficient Services • Men’s low rate of reporting abuse & utilizing professional services • Bias & discrimination against male victims • Lack of empirical data and research • Supportive findings from preliminary studies Drs. Tsui & Cheung Cheung & Tsui, 2011
Background Prevalence of Male Victims in IPA Drs. Tsui & Cheung
Background Gender Difference in Reporting Abuse • Female victims (4 times) > male victims of IPA (81% vs 19%) (Brown, 2004) • Men prefer anonymous channels (such as telephone interviews, radio program) (Hines, Brown and Dunning, 2007; Cheung, 2009) => Data collection (e.g., online survey) (Wright, 2005) Drs. Tsui & Cheung
Background Supporting Evidence from Preliminary Studies • An internet-based study found only 19 male-focused services and 4 shelters in the US (Cheung, Leung, & Tsui, 2009) • An online survey: 1/4 of the respondents revealed male victims did NOT utilize social services at all (Tsui et al., 2009). • Barriers: Shame, Denial, Fear, Stigmatization, etc. => VERY FEW SERVICES being provided to male victims => BARRIERSto help-seeking by men Drs. Tsui & Cheung
Purpose of the Study 1. Explore the extent of service use & help-seeking sources 2. Examine the socialization factors, social-network orientation, service use, helpers, abuse experience and sociodemographic variables and their relationship to help-seeking behaviors in male victims of IPA. 3. Identify barriers and facilitators to help-seeking for male victims of IPA, explore the experience of abused men in IPA and their struggles in the help-seeking process. Drs. Tsui & Cheung
Conceptual Framework Figure 1. A Research Framework for Investigating Help-Seeking Behaviors among Male Victims in Intimate Partner Abuse • Theoretical • Perspectives • Gender Role • Socialization • Social Construction • of Masculinity • Social Psychology of • Help-Seeking • Social Isolation • Social & Psychological • Factors • Socialization • Social-Network • Orientation • Service Use • Helpers • Abuse Experience Sociodemographics age, ethnicity, education, marital status, etc. Drs. Tsui & Cheung Help-Seeking Behaviors Formal Sources of Support Informal Sources of Support Not seeking any form of help Use of Services
HOW? Drs. Tsui & Cheung
RESEARCH DESIGN & METHODS • Anonymous online self-administered survey www.surveymonkey.com/s/KS9WG96 www.menweb.org/battered • A mixedmethods approach • Anationalstudy (exploratory) • Non-probability Sampling: Convenience, Purposive & Snowball Sampling • Sample: Male Victims (include survivors), age 18 or above, living in the US. • Data Collection: between March 2010 and February, 2012 • Approval of the University of Houston IRB Drs. Tsui & Cheung
RESULTS Drs. Tsui & Cheung
Results Figure 2. Final Sample (N = 220) Drs. Tsui & Cheung
Results • Demographic Characteristics (N = 220) • Most were White (163, 74%) • Mean Age: 43 • Female partners (200, 91%) • More than one-third (83, 38%) were divorced/ separated • Two-thirds had children (157, 71%) • More than half (122, 56%) achieved college graduate level or above • Approximately two-thirds (129, 59%) were employed full time • Majority were US born (182, 83%) and non-US born lived in the US for 12.5 years on average Drs. Tsui & Cheung
Results: Abuse Experience (N=220) • Current: 54% (118); In the Past: 46% (102) • Figure 3. Types of Abuse experienced by the Respondents Drs. Tsui & Cheung
Results: Service Use (N=220) Utilization: Three-fourths (166) used social services Helpfulness: Overall perceived to be not helpful (< 3 based on a 5-pt scale) Figure 4. Service UtilizationFigure 5. Service Helpfulness Drs. Tsui & Cheung Note: Average responses from 80 respondents on a 5-point scale (1=very insufficient & 5=very sufficient)
Results: Help-Seeking Source (N=220) • Utilization: 94% (207) approached helpers; preferred informal except religious leaders) to formal help. • Helpfulness: informal helpers are more helpful (average = 3.4) than formal helpers (2.6) (based on 5-pt scale) • Figure 6. HelpersFigure 7. Helpers’ Helpfulness Drs. Tsui & Cheung Note: Average responses from 80 respondents on a 5-point scale (1=very insufficient & 5=very sufficient)
RESULTS: BARRIERS & FACILITATORS (N=28) (QUALITATIVE FINDINGS) MORE BARRIERS than Facilitators 9 times 4 times Drs. Tsui & Cheung 2 times
RESULTS: QUALITATIVE (N=68) Drs. Tsui & Cheung
RESULTS: QUALITATIVE (N=68) Drs. Tsui & Cheung
BARRIERS TO HELP-SEEKING MODEL FOR IPA MALE VICTIMS Drs. Tsui & Cheung
Men’s Voices about Seeking Help • All the DV programs I phoned said: “We’re here to help women.”’ • “I feel too ashamed to seek social services.” • “I do not get the impression that are either able or willing to help.” • “[I] went to pastor at church and was not believed. Quit looking for help.” Drs. Tsui & Cheung
Stories Written in the Survey An Example This is my story with my ex-wife that I have never told anyone…until after five years of our separation. Please listen, and please help. Drs. Tsui & Cheung
Hear Their Voices: A Composite Narrative From Abused Men Drs. Tsui & Cheung A Composite Narrative from Abused Men
RESULTS: QUALITATIVE (N =68) • Four Major Findings • 1. Negative psychological effects • 2. History of child abuse & family history of abuse • 3. Mental & substance abuse problems of • respondents’ partner • 4. Co-occurrence of child abuse and spousal abuse • Men’s Concerns • Children • Legal consequences Drs. Tsui & Cheung
Limitations • Threats to Internal Validity • Threats to External Validity • Self-administered survey • Only English version • STRENGTHS • Mixed method approach • Nationwide study • Snowball sampling • Anonymous online survey Drs. Tsui & Cheung
A TOP TEN LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO HELP MALE VICTIMS OF IPA • Acknowledge the existence of male victims who need help and support. • Acknowledge the IPA male victims’ service needs. • Reform the VAWA policy to include gender-neutral language for the victims. • Provide training for law enforcement and legal personnel and helping professionals. • Advocate gender-inclusive and gender-sensitive approach for practice and research. Drs. Tsui & Cheung
A TOP TEN LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO HELP MALE VICTIMS OF IPA • Dispel myths and misconceptions by strengthening public awareness on IPA against men. • Help men reframe and redefine masculinity • Engage in anonymity-based approach to service provision • Provide more funding resources and culturally sensitive services for male victims • Conduct more empirical-based research, both quantitative and qualitative. Drs. Tsui & Cheung
Intimate Partner Abuse RESOURCE GUIDE Drs. Tsui & Cheung http://www.sw.uh.edu/community/cwep/title-iv-e/index.php
Social Work Mission & values Drs. Tsui & Cheung
Intimate Partner Abuse “Victims, regardless of their gender, need support and help.” ZERO TOLERANCE! Drs. Tsui & Cheung
Thank you! Drs. Tsui & Cheung