Identifying how to Engage Men in Domestic Violence Research: a Concept Mapping Study

The Engaging Men project aimed to identify facilitators, societal approaches to and support for domestic violence, and barriers to men’s participation in domestic violence research, assessing the importance of each factor. Participatory concept mapping was used with a convenience sample of men (n = 142) in person and online across Australia, Canada and the United States of America. Engaging Men identified 43 facilitators, societal approaches to and support for domestic violence, and/or barriers to men’s participation in domestic violence research. The strongest facilitators related to external connections, such as concern for women around them. Men also recognized societal approaches to and support for domestic violence and the strongest barriers centered on internal feelings, including fear, shame and guilt about being linked to domestic violence. This study suggests that providing a safe environment for men to express genuine thoughts, feeling and views about domestic violence is vital, yet rarely available in domestic violence research. Therefore, research opportunities need to be more effectively designed and incentivized to address challenging issues identified by men, such as fear, shame and guilt and offer meaningful opportunities to demonstrate positive change.