One in Three Australian Men Admit They’ve Committed Intimate Partner Violence

In a survey by the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS), 35 percent of men aged between 18 and 65 admitted to having committed intimate partner violence (IPV), defined as including both physical violence and non-physical abuse.

The survey was conducted in 2022 as part of Ten to Men, a long-running research initiative run by the AIFS, a government agency, with the results released this month as the basis of an in-depth report.

A previous study conducted by the agency in 2013–14 included the same cohort. It found that about one in four men admitted to IPV, considerably less than in 2022. The AIFS estimates that 120,000 Australian men begin committing intimate partner violence each year.

The different types of abuse

The most common admitted-to type of intimate partner violence was emotional abuse. 32 percent of men reported having made an intimate partner feel “frightened or anxious” at any time.

Nine percent admitted to ever “hitting, slapping, kicking or otherwise physically hurting” an intimate partner while angry.

In the 2013–14 study, two percent of men admitted to sexually abusing an intimate partner. The prevalence of intimate partner sexual abuse was not measured in 2022, “given concerns about possible mandatory reporting obligations at the time,” the newly-released report states.

Key messages of AIFS’ intimate partner violence research

The surveys from 2013–14 and 2022 “provide the first longitudinal data on the use of intimate partner violence from a representative sample of Australian men.”

According to the report, a number of factors correlate with the prevalence of abuse.

“Men with depressive symptoms and those who had reported suicide related experiences by 2013–14 were more likely to have started using intimate partner violence by 2022,” it stated. Men who had previously shown mild depressive symptoms, moderate or severe depressive symptoms or suicidal thoughts, plans or attempts were 32 percent, 62 percent and 47 percent more likely to use IPV than those who had not.

However, social support and paternal affection decreased the prevalence of abuse. Men who reported higher levels of social support in 2013–14 were 26 percent less likely to have started using intimate partner violence by 2022 compared to men with less social support.

Further, men who strongly agreed that they had received affection from their father or an equivalent figure were 48 percent less likely to have committed IPV compared to those who strongly disagreed.

“After accounting for other mental health, wellbeing, economic and psychological factors, our analysis showed no associations between ever receiving an anxiety diagnosis or overall life satisfaction in 2013–14 and men’s first use of intimate partner violence by 2022,” the report also stated.

There appeared to be a link between men experiencing and committing abuse. 25 percent of respondents “reported ever using and experiencing intimate partner violence, more than twice the proportion who reported using violence but never experiencing it,” which was 10 percent.

Expects call for action on intimate partner violence

AIFS director Liz Neville stressed the importance of early intervention.

“With an estimated 120,000 men starting to use intimate partner violence each year across Australia, we can see more clearly how delays in effective interventions can have devastating consequences,” Neville said.

“Each act of violence harms individuals, families and communities. We hope these disturbing numbers provide the impetus for further action by governments at all levels, underpinned by evidence.”

Ten to Men programme lead Dr. Sean Martin emphasised the importance of recognising factors which correlate with IPV.

“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.”

Tanya Plibersek: “Concerning, but sadly not surprising”

Social services minister Tanya Plibersek said the findings were “concerning, but sadly not surprising.”

“It’s critical that we look at the factors that might lead to violence so we can make sure we’re funding programs that stop it at the start,” the minister added.

“To end domestic and family violence we need to invest in the frontline services that help people and keep them safe, but we also need to stop the behaviours that lead to it.”

Plibersek said the Commonwealth Government is “investing a record $4 billion in initiatives including prevention, early intervention, response, and recovery.”