Intimate Partner Violence and Its Influential Factors: Men Who Turn to Physical Violence
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Issue Date
2025
Editor
Authors
Lesar, Ielena
License
Subject
School of humanitarian studies
Abstract
Abstract Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a pervasive problem in Canada. The rates of men who turn to physical IPV towards their female partners are higher than for any other couple relationship. Most studies to date focus on victim/survivor experiences and do not explore IPV by understanding the experiences of men who have perpetrated the physical IPV, leaving a gap as to why this turn occurs. This socio-ecological study explores the influential factors in five overarching determinants for men at risk of turning to physical IPV: intrapersonal, interpersonal, environmental, organizational, and policy. One-on-one interviews were conducted with eight facilitators of IPV-mandated treatment programs for men who had been charged with assault on an intimate partner. The insights provided by the facilitators were based on their recall of group setting scenarios including dialogue, individual interactions with group members, and facilitators’ overall professional knowledge of IPV. Through a socio-ecological theoretical framework, influential factors on physical IPV are identified, showing that both organizational and policy determinants have an important role for those at risk and most definitely have failed to offer adequate interventions before IPV tendencies begin to emerge. The data also revealed that the more influential factors increase, the higher the likelihood of a man turning to physical IPV. I offer recommendations to call for government and stakeholders alike to fund early intervention programming and support families struggling with all types of IPV. Early intervention provides young people the opportunity to choose a different way to behave, reduce toxic stress, and lower the impact of adverse childhood experiences by inserting protective factors into their lives.
Description
2025