The Male Patients Of Spousal Abuse Presenting In Emergency Department: Victims Or Abuser?

Abstract

Male victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) are usually the less-mentioned or the “hidden” groups in IPV research studies. Men may play different roles of IPV, including as victims of violence perpetrated by women, victims of resistant violence during women’s self-defense, party to common couple violence caused by tension leading one or both partners to resort to violence rather than coercive control, and perpetrators of intimate terrorism (Johnson, 1995, 2006; Hines & Douglas, 2010). This presentation will explore the characteristics of the male patients of IPV presenting in the accident and emergency departments in Hong Kong. A retrospective study was conducted, male and female cases relating to IPV presented in AEDs in 2010-2014 was retrieved and studied. The health care needs and the help-seeking pattern of male victims/abusers, and the implication on the development of a holistic observation of IPV, will also be discussed in this presentation. The gender differences and cultural influences on IPV will be identified. The findings of this study can provide further empirical knowledge of male IPV vcitims/abusers.