Researchers looking for men to take part in new domestic violence study
Researchers at the University of Bristol’s Centre for Academic Primary Care are looking for men who are concerned that they are, or have been, abusive in their relationships with women to take part in a new study that will help improve how we support men in changing their behaviour.
Abusive behaviour can involve a range of actions, including physically hurting someone, pushing or shoving them, frightening them, or controlling or pressuring them into doing what you want or not doing what they want. These behaviours are known to have a significant health impact on women and children, and on men.
The NIHR-funded REPROVIDE study has developed a group programme for men that aims to help them understand and change their behaviour. The programme is being tested to see whether it works for the men and improves the safety and wellbeing of their partner or ex-partner.
The study aims to recruit 366 men who live in the South West (Somerset, Wiltshire, Bristol, Bath, South Gloucestershire or Blaenau Gwent- South Wales) and who are (or have been):
- in a relationship with a female partner
- aged 21 or over
- worried that their behaviour towards female partners might be violent or abusive.
Men who take part will either join the group programme or a comparison group. Those in the group programme will attend weekly group meetings for approximately six months and complete questionnaires at various points during the study. Those in the comparison group will just complete the questionnaires.
Female partners or ex-partners of the men involved in the study will also be invited to take part. Their experiences – whether they feel safer and whether the abuse has stopped – will help the research team measure how effective the group programme for men has been. Partners or ex-partners will be offered appropriate support.
If you would like more information, would like to refer someone or would like to take part in the REPROVIDE study, please contact the research team by emailing reprovide-men@bristol.ac.uk. All correspondence will be treated in confidence.
http://www.bristol.ac.uk/primaryhealthcare/researchthemes/reprovide/workstream-ii-group-intervention-for-men/