Men Can Be Victims, Too.

When the terms "domestic violence" or "domestic abuse" are used, we almost always think of women as the victims. However, men can be victims, too. And research is starting to catch up on what domestic violence looks like from a male perspective. According to a recent survey of 400 randomly sampled men:

* Five percent had experienced domestic violence in the past year, 10% in the past five years and 29% over their lifetimes. The researchers defined domestic violence to include nonphysical abuse—threats, chronic disparaging remarks or controlling behavior—as well as physical abuse: slapping, hitting, kicking or forced sex.
* Abused men were more likely to experience severe depression.
* Abused men were just as likely as abused women to stay in their abusive relationships, dispelling the myth that men can walk away easily from such an unhealthy relationship.
* Younger men were twice as likely as older men to report their abuse and talk about it.

Remember that domestic violence affects people from all walks of life: rich, poor, homosexual, heterosexual, black or white.

If you hear something inappropriate, don’t ignore it or pretend it didn’t happen. If you're being abused or if you know of someone who is being abused, report it. No one should have to suffer from the physical and mental anguish of abuse. [Medicalnewstoday.com]