Engaging Men in Intimate Partner Relationship Programs

Service Provider and Stakeholder Perspectives

Bibliographic Data

ID21748907
AuthorsPaul Sharp (0000-0001-5616-3181, University of Technology Sydney, corresponding author), Adina Coroiu (0000-0002-1836-2320, Harvard University), Simon Rice (0000-0003-4045-8553, The University of Melbourne), Zac E Seidler (0000-0002-6854-1554, The University of Melbourne), M J Wilson (0000-0001-8983-0067, Department of Psychiatry, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada), David Kealy (0000-0002-3679-6085, University of British Columbia), John S Ogrodniczuk (0000-0002-3531-9033, University of British Columbia), John L Oliffe (0000-0001-9029-4003, University of British Columbia)
Year2023
Volume17
Issue2
Publication date2023-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Men s Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1557-9883 • E-ISSN: 1557-9891
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/15579883231161023
OpenAlexW4323664078
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited31

Men’s intimate partner relationship services have focused on correcting the behaviors of male perpetrators of intimate partner (IPV) and/or domestic violence (DV). There is a need to advance IPV and DV prevention efforts by better equipping men with relationship skills. This study explores service providers’ and stakeholders’ perspectives about the challenges and strategies for assisting men to build better intimate partner relationships. Interviews were conducted with participants ( n = 30) from Canada and Australia who worked in the men’s intimate partner relationships sector. Three themes were inductively derived: (a) crisis management (barriers to engagement), (b) owning deficits and leveraging strengths (engaging though accountability and action), and (c) me then we (self-work as requisite for relationship success). Using a gender relations lens, we examined the influence of masculinities on men’s intimate partner relationships and engagement with services. Participants described crisis management challenges for men accessing services including shame, threats to masculine identity, and mental health challenges. Owning deficits and leveraging strengths hinged on men’s accountability and action, rather than assigning blame for problematic behaviors in accessing services. Related to this, the me then we theme highlighted men’s strength-based approaches in focussing on self-work to develop tangible skills and awareness needed to build healthy relationships. Overall, the findings indicate men’s healthy relationships hinged on working with masculine identities to inform their perspectives and behaviors. Men’s intimate partner relationship work likely requires labor at multiple levels (e.g., individual, partners, and systems) to secure the strong potential for reframing masculine identities as asset-building for men’s relationships

Accountability · Blame · Business · Cognitive reframing · Domestic violence · Poison control · Political science · Public relations · Service provider · Suicide prevention · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Gender Roles and Identity Studies · Intimate Partner and Family Violence · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology

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