New research from MSU School of Social Work associate professor Hyunkag Cho examines why male survivors of intimate partner violence are less likely to seek help and calls for more supportive, inclusive intervention services.
Male survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) often go unrecognized and underreported, according to new research from Michigan State University School of Social Work associate professor Hyunkag Cho.
“Male survivors are less likely than female survivors to seek help,” Cho said, citing research showing that about 32% of men seek help following abuse compared to 64% of women.
In his recent study, Cho identified several factors that contribute to disparities in help-seeking behavior among male survivors, as well as four distinct patterns of abuse they may experience:
Physical and Psychological Violence
Physical Violence and Stalking
Coercive Control
Psychological Aggression
Cho’s study examined how abuse type, stigma and perceptions of masculinity shape whether male survivors seek formal support after intimate partner violence.
“Male survivors experience a variety of barriers when they choose to seek help for their victimization,” Cho said.
Those barriers can include shame and embarrassment, as some men may view disclosing abuse as a challenge to traditional expectations around masculinity and gender roles.
Distrust in police and other formal support systems is another key reason many male survivors do not report abuse.
“Approximately only half (51%) of the male survivors included in another study chose to report to the police, particularly due to the shame associated with coming forward as a male victim of IPV,” Cho said.
Cho’s study also found that the severity of intimate partner violence strongly influences whether men seek help, with prior research identifying severity as the strongest predictor of help-seeking among male survivors.
Survivors who experienced more severe forms of abuse were more likely to contact police, doctors and psychologists. For example, survivors in the Physical and Psychological Violence category were more likely to seek formal help than survivors in the Physical Violence and Stalking category.
Cho said male survivors may also interpret abuse differently from female survivors.
“Men may downplay or dismiss their experiences with IPV due to traditional gender norms and social constructions of masculinity that associate manhood with strength and emotional toughness,” he said.
As a result, some men may view physical violence as less serious, resist identifying themselves as victims and avoid reporting abuse altogether.
Cho said these findings point to the need for healthcare, intervention and support services that better reflect male survivors’ experiences.
“Enhanced awareness of the unique challenges faced by male victims in the help-seeking process can inform policy changes and resource allocation to ensure improved access to services and legal protections,” he said.
“By incorporating a more supportive approach to IPV intervention, healthcare providers can contribute to more effective prevention and intervention efforts, ultimately reducing the prevalence and impact of IPV on male victims and their communities,” Cho said.