The mental health challenges faced by men alongside reports of increased use of violence by males against their intimate partners is an increasingly concerning public health issue. As part of the systemic and service response to these problems, the importance of developing, maintaining and repairing intimate, familial and social relationships is paramount.
In this presentation we highlight the state of relationships for men, including changes over time and the key factors at play for those experiencing challenging circumstances or relationship pressures. We present data from the Relationship Indicators survey, that provides a nationally representative snapshot of over 3000 respondents into the state of relationships in Australia. Included in the analysis are the changes observed over time from the 2022 survey.
The types of relationships deemed most important by men, and how this has changed over time, particularly for younger men, is described. This includes data on men reporting positively for domestic violence risk factors, post-separation from their intimate partner. Men’s support-seeking behaviours and use of groups is compared to the typical supports available to improve relationships, with key gaps identified.
Key learnings
Men’s experiences of relationships are starkly different to that of women, and there has been a substantial drop in younger men listing intimate partners as their most important relationship.
Men are less socially connected and more socially lonely than women, and they are also less likely to seek support for relationship problems.
The response to men’s mental health and relationship challenges must work upstream from the extreme of domestic and family violence. What can be done beyond Men’s Behaviour Change Programs and provide tailored supports to enable men to create more fulfilling connections?