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New UB Research Study Reveals Data on Abuse of Men in Intimate Relationships with Women

Fri, Dec 8th 2023, 10:16 AM
Education

Men are reporting that their intimate partners are inflicting physical and sexual abuse both within marriage and in non-married heterosexual relationships, according to a new study that casts a spotlight on the phenomenon that many consider taboo.

University of The Bahamas (UB) researchers William Fielding and Virginia Ballance have completed a new study newly published in the second part of UB’s International Journal of Bahamian Studies, volume 30, that documents how men in The Bahamas report being treated in intimate relationships. The study entitled, Sexual and Psychological Abuse of Men in Heterosexual Relationships in The Bahamas, presents compelling findings. It is based on a sample survey of 1,257 men.

Among the conclusions were that overall, 14% of respondents reported experiencing sex against their will; married and unmarried men were equally likely to report experiencing unwanted sexual intercourse in their current relationship, and unmarried men were more likely than married men to have been physically hurt by their current partner.

Married men who admitted to being victims of unwanted sexual intercourse by their wives were more likely to report having been physically hurt by their wife than those who had not experienced unwanted sex, the research found. Further, it noted that psychological abuse was more evident for unmarried than married men. 

"These findings suggest that men may need more help in coping with abuse than is commonly recognized. Investigating why abusive behaviours, including unwanted sex, were more common outside of marriage than inside of marriage may be a useful area of future research in the Bahamian community," the study noted.

The revelations cast a spotlight on sexual abuse and gender-based violence in a new direction, where up to now, more often than not, men are framed as the perpetrators of violence.  The research team of Fielding and Ballance have done other studies on intimate partner violence focused on women respondents. They acknowledged that sexual abuse is typically viewed as being initiated by men and inflicted upon female victims, despite studies, including one from The Bahamas, indicating that girls can engage in controlling behaviours of their boyfriends at an early age.

The target population was adult men, aged 18 years or older, living in The Bahamas and in intimate relationships with women. In the Internet-based survey used, there was an index for hurting, insulting, threating, and swearing as an indicator of domestic violence, and a psychological abuse scale slightly modified to make the questions culturally appropriate for The Bahamas.

Physical violence was more common outside than inside of marriage (15.5% of married men compared with 26.1% of unmarried men were physically hit by their partners), according to the survey results. The experience of physical violence was also linked with unwanted sex, but not marital status, noted the study, which also indicated that being in a relationship where the female partner had sex with other partners or made the respondent have unwanted sex was associated with an increased hurting, insulting, threating, and swearing index score compared to when the female did not act in these ways. 

The research published added that, “In the case of men who experienced unwanted sex, they were more likely to have also suffered physical violence from their wives than men who had not experienced unwanted sex. When married men were not subjected to physical harm, they were no more likely to have had sex against their will than unmarried men.  

“Overall, 18.8% of 32 married men who had suffered unwanted sex indicated that they would leave the relationship if they could, compared to 7.4% of 269 married men who had not experienced unwanted sex.” 

The study also included findings on psychological abuse where researchers used a specific scale, revealing that this level of abuse was typically higher when men experienced unwanted sex and that unmarried men who had sex against their will had higher abuse scores than married men who had unwanted sex.  

According to Fielding and Ballance, the study not only contributes to an under-researched aspect of male abuse but has indicated that sexual abuse of men has effects which can persist because of their physiological abuse.  

“Further, as in other communities, for example, Nigeria, there is a need to encourage abused men to seek the help which their abuse requires. Successfully engaging abused persons to participate in interventions that result in both females and males treating their intimate partners with greater respect would be beneficial to not only each other, but the wider society, due to the negative impact on the economy which psychological abuse can have on the victim’s work,” the study noted. 

This study is among several others in UB’s new research edition which also contains other original research articles on geo-tourism, student and parent relationships, and various other aspects of heterosexual relationships. It also has a literature review on legal rape in The Bahamas and other contributions under the banner of commentaries and speeches, short communications, and creative works. 

Men are reporting that their intimate partners are inflicting physical and sexual abuse both within marriage and in non-married heterosexual relationships, according to a new study that casts a spotlight on the phenomenon that many consider taboo.
University of The Bahamas (UB) researchers William Fielding and Virginia Ballance have completed a new study newly published in the second part of UB’s International Journal of Bahamian Studies, volume 30, that documents how men in The Bahamas report being treated in intimate relationships. The study entitled, Sexual and Psychological Abuse of Men in Heterosexual Relationships in The Bahamas, presents compelling findings. It is based on a sample survey of 1,257 men.
Among the conclusions were that overall, 14% of respondents reported experiencing sex against their will; married and unmarried men were equally likely to report experiencing unwanted sexual intercourse in their current relationship, and unmarried men were more likely than married men to have been physically hurt by their current partner.
Married men who admitted to being victims of unwanted sexual intercourse by their wives were more likely to report having been physically hurt by their wife than those who had not experienced unwanted sex, the research found. Further, it noted that psychological abuse was more evident for unmarried than married men. 
"These findings suggest that men may need more help in coping with abuse than is commonly recognized. Investigating why abusive behaviours, including unwanted sex, were more common outside of marriage than inside of marriage may be a useful area of future research in the Bahamian community," the study noted.
The revelations cast a spotlight on sexual abuse and gender-based violence in a new direction, where up to now, more often than not, men are framed as the perpetrators of violence.  The research team of Fielding and Ballance have done other studies on intimate partner violence focused on women respondents. They acknowledged that sexual abuse is typically viewed as being initiated by men and inflicted upon female victims, despite studies, including one from The Bahamas, indicating that girls can engage in controlling behaviours of their boyfriends at an early age.
The target population was adult men, aged 18 years or older, living in The Bahamas and in intimate relationships with women. In the Internet-based survey used, there was an index for hurting, insulting, threating, and swearing as an indicator of domestic violence, and a psychological abuse scale slightly modified to make the questions culturally appropriate for The Bahamas.
Physical violence was more common outside than inside of marriage (15.5% of married men compared with 26.1% of unmarried men were physically hit by their partners), according to the survey results. The experience of physical violence was also linked with unwanted sex, but not marital status, noted the study, which also indicated that being in a relationship where the female partner had sex with other partners or made the respondent have unwanted sex was associated with an increased hurting, insulting, threating, and swearing index score compared to when the female did not act in these ways. 
The research published added that, “In the case of men who experienced unwanted sex, they were more likely to have also suffered physical violence from their wives than men who had not experienced unwanted sex. When married men were not subjected to physical harm, they were no more likely to have had sex against their will than unmarried men.  
“Overall, 18.8% of 32 married men who had suffered unwanted sex indicated that they would leave the relationship if they could, compared to 7.4% of 269 married men who had not experienced unwanted sex.” 
The study also included findings on psychological abuse where researchers used a specific scale, revealing that this level of abuse was typically higher when men experienced unwanted sex and that unmarried men who had sex against their will had higher abuse scores than married men who had unwanted sex.  
According to Fielding and Ballance, the study not only contributes to an under-researched aspect of male abuse but has indicated that sexual abuse of men has effects which can persist because of their physiological abuse.  
“Further, as in other communities, for example, Nigeria, there is a need to encourage abused men to seek the help which their abuse requires. Successfully engaging abused persons to participate in interventions that result in both females and males treating their intimate partners with greater respect would be beneficial to not only each other, but the wider society, due to the negative impact on the economy which psychological abuse can have on the victim’s work,” the study noted. 
This study is among several others in UB’s new research edition which also contains other original research articles on geo-tourism, student and parent relationships, and various other aspects of heterosexual relationships. It also has a literature review on legal rape in The Bahamas and other contributions under the banner of commentaries and speeches, short communications, and creative works. 
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