Technorati Tags: men, domestic abuse
It is common notion that women are the ones who are victims of domestic violence and abuse. However, recent research shows that this issue affects men too.
According to Group Health research led by Dr. Robert Reid, men too experience domestic violence. However, this is not really known publicly because more often than not, the trauma that they experience is often hidden and understudied.
Reid's findings debunk common beliefs and myths about abuse of men. The study confirms that 29 percent of American men are actually victims of domestic violence in their lifetimes. This debunks the idea that only a handful of men ever experience this kind of situation.
Also, the study reveals that domestic violence is linked to serious and long-term effects on men's mental health. Though physical abuse is largely attributed on women, emotional and mental abuse, which is far more damaging, is inflicted to men.
"But even non-physical abuse, can do lasting damage," Reid added.
Reid found that depressive symptoms were nearly three times as common in older men who had experienced abuse than in those who hadn't.
Also, men are not likely to leave their abusive partners as what common belief suggests. The researchers found that men stay for years with their abusive partners.
"We know that many women may have trouble leaving abusive relationships, especially if they're caring for young children and not working outside the home. We were surprised to find that most men in abusive relationships also stay, through multiple episodes, for years," said Dr Reid.
In addition, Dr. Reid is aware that more research is required to determine the best ways for doctors to ask men if they have experienced domestic violence especially on how best to help them into couples counseling, leaving their partners, or getting protection orders.
The study is published in the June American Journal of Preventive Medicine.