Experiences of Scottish men who have been subject to intimate partner violence in same-sex relationships

A narrative study of the experiences of 10 gay and bisexual men who self-identified as having been subject to intimate partner violence (IPV). All participants were living in Scotland. Narrative interviews were carried out online or on the telephone. Findings focus on 1) forms of IPV experienced 2) impact on health and wellbeing 3) relationship factors 4) barriers/facilitators to disclosure of IPV experience

A narrative study of the experiences of 10 gay and bisexual men who self-identified as having been subject to intimate partner violence (IPV). All participants were living in Scotland. Narrative interviews were carried out online or on the telephone. Findings focus on 1) forms of IPV experienced 2) impact on health and wellbeing 3) relationship factors 4) barriers/facilitators to disclosure of IPV experience

The key finding was the difficulties that participants had in recognising what they were experiencing as IPV because of the lack of a narrative around men having IPV perpetrated on them, masculine ideals, and a lack of role modelling of healthy gay relationships. Additional challenges of finding a partner often led to participants tolerating behaviours that they felt were wrong in order to avoid loneliness.

Other key findings include the negative impact on the participants' mental and physical health, and the challenges of getting their experience of IPV recognised by health, care or justice services which led to a lack of desire to disclose.