How self-reported alcohol use and masculinities are related to the reported use of intimate partner violence

By Katrina Scurrah, Swen Kuh, Mulu Woldegiorgis, Catherine Andersson, Sean Martin

Using data from Wave 1 (2013–14) and Wave 4 (2022) of Ten to Men: The Australian Longitudinal Study on
Male Health, we found: Higher-risk alcohol use was associated with men starting to use intimate partner violence (IPV) over time. Men with hazardous drinking at Wave 1 were 27% more likely to initiate IPV by Wave 4 than low-risk drinkers; men with harmful use or possible dependence were 57% more likely. The relationship between alcohol use and IPV was similar across the different forms of IPV measured (emotional-type abuse, physical violence and sexual abuse) and was strongest for the use of physical IPV. Men with harmful use/possible dependence had around double the risk (119%) of initiating physical IPV than low-risk drinkers.
How much men drank in a typical session mattered more than how often they drank. Men who typically drank 10+ standard drinks were 55% more likely to initiate IPV than non-drinkers; drinking frequency and age at first drink were not linked to later IPV initiation.

Overall scores for conformity to masculine norms were not associated with IPV initiation but some specific norms were. Higher scores on the measure, used in Wave 1, for the domains of playboy, violence and risk taking were associated with starting to use IPV. In contrast, patterns combining emotional openness, self-reliance and primacy of work were associated with a lower likelihood of starting to use IPV. Another masculinity-related scale that assessed gender-role identity was used in Wave 4 and there was no clear association with the use of IPV. There was little evidence that self-reported masculinities changed the strength of the relationship between alcohol use and IPV initiation. Higher-risk drinking was linked to IPV regardless of the strength between alcohol use and IPV initiation. Higher-risk drinking was linked to IPV regardless of the strength of conformity to these masculine norms. The combined highest-risk group (harmful/probable alcohol dependence plus high scores on the masculine norms measure used at Wave 1) showed at most a modest additional increase in risk of IPV use compared with either high alcohol risk or stronger conformity to specific masculine norms alone.

These findings suggest the following could enhance policy and practice to support IPV prevention efforts: Use alcohol harm reduction as a practical lever for IPV prevention. Strengthen routine alcohol screening and brief intervention/referral pathways in settings that see large numbers of men (primary care, mental health and community services), with clear, safe escalation pathways where IPV risk is identified. Prioritise indicators of heavier drinking in risk identification for IPV initiation. Policies and practice guidance should focus on current severity/patterns rather than drinking frequency alone for men, as these were the measures most predictive of later use of IPV. Target the specific masculine norms associated with IPV use. While this report found little evidence that these norms change the strength of the alcohol–IPV association, the highest observed risks tended to be among men with both higher-risk drinking and higher-risk masculine norm profiles. This suggests prevention and behaviour-change approaches may be particularly valuable when targeted to men already identified as higher risk (e.g. through alcohol-related risk) and should address norms related to violence acceptance, risk taking, sexual entitlement and status/power, and build skills such as emotion regulation and non-violent conflict management – integrated with alcohol-focused interventions where relevant. Taken together, these findings point to the potential value of coordinated alcohol and other drugs–family and domestic violence (AOD–FDV) pathways, rather than separate, parallel responses. This includes alcohol interventions that incorporate safe identification of family violence risk and enable appropriate referral, as well as specialist programs that address both alcohol-related harm and relevant attitudes and behaviours as part of a tailored response.