Men Who Experience Interpersonal Violence: Perspectives from Research to Intervention

Over the last half‐century, research on interpersonal violence (e.g., sexual violence and intimate partner violence), has expanded dramatically as scholars work to better understand the phenomena and contribute to addressing it effectively. However, much of the research has focused primarily on men as perpetrators of interpersonal violence and there is limited research conducted on and about men who experience interpersonal violence victimization.

Although women who experience interpersonal violence victimization are at greater risk of serious injury and death compared with men, interpersonal violence against men is associated with a range of negative consequences, such as physical (e.g. cardiovascular disease), mental health (e.g. depression, suicidal ideation), and social (e.g. isolation) harm. Furthermore, discussions of men who experience interpersonal violence require discussions of masculinity norms and ideals such as matsuizim as necessary groundwork. For example, men may face gender-specific internal and external barriers such as shame and limited services to help-seeking associated with hegemonic masculinity.

Given that the majority of research focused on interpersonal violence victimization has largely been dedicated to and defined by studying the experiences of women, there is a need to develop a well-grounded conceptual understanding of men’s experiences of victimization with implications for clinicians and policymakers. In addition, research and theoretical understating regarding new forms of masculinities that are seldom incorporated in interpersonal violence research among men, opens up new opportunities for the development of this subject.

This Research Topic aims to gather updated scientific and multidisciplinary contributions about issues linked to men who experience interpersonal violence in childhood and adulthood including child maltreatment, intimate partner violence, sexual assault, sexual coercion, sexual harassment, and online violence. Submissions focused on same-sex intimate partner violence are of particular interest, as this topic is often overlooked in research and theory on interpersonal violence. Furthermore, contributions that take into account the social context of interpersonal violence by addressing structural factors such as inequality and poverty and men’s victimization in settings affected by conflict and forced displacement are also welcomed. This knowledge will enable a more complete view of interpersonal violence and its translation to practice.

We encourage contributions from a variety of areas including original qualitative and quantitative articles, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, theories and clinical case studies on biological, psychosocial and cultural correlates, risk and protective factors, and the associated factors related to the etiology, assessment, and interventions targeting men who experience interpersonal violence victimization.

Other relevant domains include:
• The process of interpersonal violence disclosure,
• Barriers to and facilitators of help-seeking behavior,
• Service providers’ perspective,
• Resilience and coping strategies among men, and
• Perpetration of interpersonal violence against men.