Content Warning: Intimate partner violence, suicidal ideation.
More than one in three Australian men have reported using intimate partner violence in their lifetime, says research by the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS).
AIFS’ research study, Tens to Mens, defines intimate partner violence as emotional-type abuse, physical violence, and sexual violence which is carried out within the bounds of an intimate relationship. The current research reflects data from 2022.
As the only longitudinal study on Australian men with data regarding intimate partner violence, Tens to Mens, aims to understand the use of intimate partner violence, and ways to reduce its likelihood.
The study has been tracking more than 16,000 boys and men since 2013, with an additional 10,000 men added in 2024-25.
Since the beginning of the study in 2013-14, the number of men using intimate partner violence has increased from one in four, to now one in three. Nationally, an estimated 120,000 men start to use intimate partner violence for the first time, each year.
The study found emotional-type abuse to be the most common form of intimate partner violence. 32 per cent of men reported that they had made an intimate partner feel ‘frightened or anxious.’ This number has seen an increase of 11 per cent since 2013-14.
lBy 2022, 9 per cent of men reported to have ever ‘hit, slapped, kicked, or otherwise physically hurt’ an intimate partner when angry, a three per cent increase from 2013-14.
Sexual violence was not measured for the current dataset.
The data found no “notable differences in the prevalence of intimate partner violence use between age cohorts,” suggesting little correlation between age and use of intimate partner violence.
Rates of the use of intimate partner violence have notably increased overtime across most age cohorts. The youngest cohort in the study, now aged 27-33, increased by 17 per cent since the beginning of the study.
The study also aimed to explore the factors which reduce the likelihood of intimate partner violence. It found that social support, parental affection, and mental health support for men all proved to be significant.
Men who reported high levels of social support ‘all the time’ were found to be 26 per cent less likely to report using intimate partner violence. The study suggests social support provides access to healthy coping mechanisms and reduces emotional distress, which may otherwise lead to intimate partner violence.
Furthermore, receiving affection from a father or father figure in childhood has been associated with decreased risk of using intimate partner violence later in life.
Whilst maternal affection is “well established as a protective factor” in reducing risk of intimate partner violence, the study suggests that fathers role model healthy relationship behaviors and shape how boys approach “receiving and giving affection.”
Men who ‘strongly agreed’ they had an affectionate relationship with their father or father figure, were 48 per cent less likely to report ever having used intimate partner violence.
Mental health also proved to be a significant factor in reducing intimate partner violence use. Men who had reported depressive symptoms or having suicidal thoughts, plans, or attempts were more likely to later report use of intimate partner violence.
Men who reported having moderate to severe depressive symptoms were 62 per cent more likely to use intimate partner violence by 2022, compared to those without these symptoms.
Mild depressive symptoms showed a 32 per cent likelihood of intimate partner violence.
Men who reported engaging in any suicide-related behaviours in 2013-14 had a 47 per cent increased risk of using intimate partner violence by 2022.
Ten to Men Program Lead, AIFS, Dr Sea Martin stated that “Depressive symptoms and a lack of social connection aren’t an excuse by any means, as violence is always a choice — but they do signal where we could be building more supports around men early on, for the sake of their future partners, children, and communities.”
Future research is advised to consider factors, such as alcohol use, drug use, and masculine norms, which influence the relationship between mental health and the use of intimate partner violence by men.
Support Resources
The national domestic, family, and sexual violence counselling, information, and support service.
Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
24/7 Support for Anxiety, Depression, and Suicide Prevention.
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Crisis Support. Suicide Prevention.
MensLine: 1300 789 978
MensLine Australia is a free telephone and online counselling service offering support for Australian men anywhere, anytime.
