Domestic violence is a pervasive problem that threatens many families and individuals throughout the world. Although most victims are women, men can also be abused. As researchers, we are trying to learn more about men’s experiences of abuse from a female intimate partner in different Western countries (UK, USA, Canada and Australia). This is an under-researched area and we hope that by allowing men’s voices to be heard we can contribute to the understanding and development of prevention, services and funding for this issue, in addition to raising international awareness. As a member of the international network of scholars, I am looking for the male participants in Canada to take part in the online focus group on their experiences of abuse in the intimate partner relationship. I would appreciate any help with spreading the information about our study on your website and among your male clients. The 1-page description of the study in a flyer form is attached.

Thank you in advance for your collaboration and help.

Men needed to take part in a study that aims to listen to men’s voices about their experience of abuse from a female intimate partner

We are looking for volunteers to participate in a 90-minute online discussion group. We are trying to learn more about men’s experiences of abuse from a female intimate partner in different Western countries (UK, USA, Canada and Australia). This is an under-researched area and we hope that by allowing men’s voices to be heard we can contribute to the understanding and development of prevention, services and funding for this issue, in addition to raising international awareness.

Alexandra Lysova, a researcher from the University of Toronto, and her collaborator (a practicing psychologist Dr. Elizabeth Celi or Dr. Louise Dixon) are looking for men to take part in the Canadian study. We want to speak to men who have experienced some form of abuse in a current or past intimate relationship and who are willing to discuss their experiences with a researcher and other men in similar situations. This abuse does not have to be physical. We recognize that people can experience other forms of abuse such as psychological, emotional, sexual or controlling behaviors, and we are interested in all of these forms. The discussion group will be held virtually; that is, we will use an online facility to speak to each other. This will allow men who live in different parts of Canada to get together and talk to each other. Groups will be small, approximately 4 men and two researchers. Your participation in this group will have to be from a private location – for example, a home PC or iPad, or mobile phone in a private location –to make sure we uphold the confidentiality for you and other participants in the group. Therefore, you could not carry out the group in an internet café or library, for example.

Requirements for participation are that you at least 18 years old, proficient in the English language, experienced some form of abuse from a female intimate partner while living in Canada at some point, and you are willing to share your story with a small group of men in similar situations. You will need access to an email account, the internet and a webcam. Participation is voluntary. You may decline to answer any question you do not wish to answer. If you wish to drop out of the study at any time, you are free to do so. Your answers will be kept fully confidential. In addition to Alexandra Lysova, the other members of the international research team are Dr. Hines and Dr. Douglas from the Universities in the USA, Dr. Louise Dixon from the University of Birmingham, UK, and Dr. Elizabeth Celi in private practice in Melbourne, Australia.

You do not have to tell us your name at any point in this study. If you are interested in reading more about this study, you need to email the researcher (details below) who will email you back detailed information. If your email address identifies your name clearly, you are free to create and use a non-identifiable account – you can do this easily online using gmail or Yahoo, for example. When the researcher emails you back she will provide you with a made-up name (Bobby, for example) that you can use in communication throughout the entire study. However, we will be able to see your face in the discussion group – we believe it will be easier to talk to each other online about sensitive issues if we can see each other; it is sometimes difficult to gauge what people really mean or feel without seeing faces.

Please note! If you are currently in an abusive relationship, you should think very carefully about whether your participation in this project can be carried out safely. For example, will your partner be able to read your emails to us and from us? Will your partner be aware of you participating in the online discussion group? Remember, unless a website has been set up in a specific way, people can trace your history on the computer – that is they can see what sites you have been logged onto. They will be able to trace that you have accessed the weblink to our online group unless you know how to effectively delete this history. Think – would taking part threaten your safety in any way? Please do not take any further part in this study if it does.