George Mason study finds shame and privacy block male IPV victims from seeking help
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A George Mason University study of nearly 1,200 U.S. men found that viewing intimate partner violence as a private matter was the most common barrier to seeking help across Black, Latino and White respondents. Latino men were significantly more likely to report shame or embarrassment as a barrier, while non-Latino White men were more likely to have difficulty labeling their experiences as abuse. The findings appear in Psychology of Men & Masculinities.
The Study
Nearly 1,200 men participated in what the authors describe as one of the first large-scale U.S. studies to compare help-seeking barriers among non-Latino Black, Latino and non-Latino White male victims of female-perpetrated intimate partner violence. The paper was led and co-authored by Denise Hines, Elisabeth Shirley Enochs Endowed Professor of Social Work at George Mason University, with postdoctoral researcher Lyric Russo as first author. Published in Psychology of Men & Masculinities, the study found that viewing abuse as a private matter was the most common barrier to seeking help across all racial and ethnic categories.
Racial and Ethnic Barriers
Across the sample of nearly 1,200 men, Latino respondents were significantly more likely to express shame or embarrassment as a barrier. Black men were less likely to report concerns about not being believed, while White men were more likely to report difficulty labeling their experiences as abuse. According to Centers for Disease Control data cited in the study, 44% of men report being victims of intimate partner violence, yet many are not receiving support.
Service Implications
Russo said the findings support more inclusive, trauma-informed, culturally responsive and gender-inclusive interventions that broaden access to existing services. Hines said identifying challenges to seeking support can help inform more effective and inclusive services for diverse groups of male victims. The paper appears in Psychology of Men & Masculinities in 2026.
What's Next
The authors recommend that future research examine intersectional factors such as age, sexual orientation and disability status. It remains unclear whether the findings will translate into changes in U.S. intimate partner violence support services.
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George Mason study finds shame and privacy block male IPV victims from seeking help
