Table 4 Details of primary-level qualitative interview and survey studies. First published in Huntley et al 2019. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/9/6/e021960.long

Bacchus

2016 [16]

UK

Two generic sexual health clinics and one specialist sexual health clinic for (LGBT) patients in London.

Mixed method study survey & individual semi-structured interviews

To illustrate the use of a case series mixed methods for integrating interviews and survey data on gay and bisexual men’s experiences of negative & abusive behaviour in the context of intimate relationships.

N = 19 for interviews

Mean age 39 years (range 21–57%)

Ethnicity:

Asian/asianbritish5.3% White 89.5%

Other 5.3%

paid employment 100%

Pragmatism (“what works as the truth regarding the research questions under investigation”)

The initial coding framework followed a deductive approach followed by open coding in an inductive process which allowed new themes to emerge

Donovan

2006 [17]

UK

Individuals were recruited from community groups and networks across the UK.

Mixed method study using UK wide survey, focus group and individual interviews

To provide a detailed picture of same sex domestic abuse, while at the same time being able to compare same sex and heterosexual experiences of such abuse

Five focus groups with lesbians, gay men and heterosexual women and men (n = 21).

Semi-structured interviews with 67 individuals identifying as lesbian (19), gay male (19), heterosexual (14 women, 9 men), bisexual (3) or queer (3),.

None stated

No details

Frierson 2014

[18]

PhD thesis

USA

Participants identified via social service agencies and social organizations, as well as social media sites serving African American gay men

Qualitative interview study

To better understand how the intersections of race, gender, and sexual orientation inform African American gay males’ definition, experiences and help-seeking

behaviours related to intimate partner violence.

13 male volunteers 18–40 yrs. identified as African American, Black, of African descent and/or biracial; identified their sexual orientation as gay or same-gender-loving; and had experienced at least one form of intimate abuse within a past and/or current relationship.

Constructivist grounded theory approach

In addition, constructivist epistemological perspective as a part of the grounded theory approach was also used

Constant comparative analysis involves four phases of coding: initial coding, focused coding, axial coding, and theoretical coding.

Hines 2010

[19]

USA

Men recruited via Domestic Abuse Helpline for Men and Women, a national IPV hotline specializing in men victims, Web sites, newsletters, blogs, and electronic mailing lists

Online questionnaire or telephone interview (same questions)

An in-depth, descriptive examination of men who sustained severe IPV from their women partners within the previous year and sought help.

299 men

Mean age = 40.49 yrs.

White 86.8%

All in heterosexual relationships

56.5% currently in a relationship with their woman partners, 47.5% marriage followed by separation (17.9%).

Relationships lasted on average 8.2 yrs.,

None stated

Qualitative responses were coded independently by 2 research assistants & any discrepancies were resolved by the first author.

Hogan 2016

[20]

PhD thesis

UK

Men recruited by domestic abuse services UK-wide (n = 2) mental health support services & drug/alcohol support services UK-wide (n = 9). Snowballing technique (n = 2) Presentation of preliminary findings at 2 UK conferences (n = 2) online support forums for male victims of domestic abuse & male victim support blogs (n = 8)

Qualitative interview study

To explore: (a) men’s experiences of female-perpetrated IPV, including their experiences of physical & psychological/emotional abuse; (b) men’s help-seeking experiences and/or their perceptions of utilising support services/support networks; and (c) barriers to men leaving their abusive relationship.

n = 23 Men > 18 yrs. who self-identified as a victim of female-perpetrated IPV.

Race/ethnicity: White British (16) White other (5) British Pakistani (1) Black Afro

Caribbean (1)

Age: (range) 24–74 (mean: 47)

Length of abusive relationship (range): 6 weeks – 31 years (mean: 12 years 5 months)

Number of abusive relationships: One (17), Two (6)

Contextualist perspective (straddles essentialism & constructionism)

Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data following the six-phase process set out by Braun and Clarke (2006).

Machado

2017

Portugal

Male victims of IPV in heterosexual relationships who had sought formal help from DV agencies

Participant’s demographics followed by semi-structured interview

To explore the experience of male Portuguese victims who had sought help for their victimization.

N = 10

mean age 51.6 yrs. (range 35-75 yrs)

50% had < 12 yrs. education

n = 6 employed

n = 4 retired

n = 3 lower class

n = 3 lower middle class

n = 2 middle class

n = 2 upper middle class

None stated

Thematic analysis.

Transcripts analysed based on emerging themes. To ensure validity and credibility of results, different strategies were adopted, including constant comparative analysis & a dense description of the meanings.

McCarrick

2016 [22]

UK

Charitable agency that support male victims & via advertisements placed on a website.

Unstructured

Face-to-face and Skype qualitative interviews.

To explore men’s experience of the UK Criminal Justice System (CJS) following female-perpetrated IPV

6 male participants (45-60 yrs) over 18 yrs. and having experienced female-perpetrated intimate partner violence (IPV) and subsequent involvement with the CJS

Interpretative phenomenological analysis

Interviews were transcribed and analysed by the researcher in a process of reflexivity.

Morgan

2014 [23]

UK

Men recruited from GP surgeries in south west of England

Cross-sectional survey & follow-up interviews investigating the impact of men’s relationships on their health

To expand the current body of knowledge on male help-seeking in relation to DVA by measuring & characterising help-seeking practices.

No demographic details

Grounded theory approach

A coding framework was used that was developed in conjunction with colleagues across the wider study.

Morgan

2016 [24]

UK

Participants recruited from websites of UK-based organisations supporting male victims of IPV.

Semi-structured interview methodology

To investigate male victims’ experiences of female-perpetrated IPV

n = 7

Researchers asked participants not to disclose their demographics of age, occupation etc. range of length of relationship 3-13 yrs. range of time since relationship finished 18mths-14 yrs

interpretative phenomenological (theory) analysis (IPA)

The scripts were transcribed verbatim from audio recordings using the Jefferson technique & analysed using IPA.

Simmons

2016 [25]

Sweden

Primary health care

Qualitative interview study

To develop a theoretical model concerning male victims’ processes of disclosing experiences of victimisation to health care professionals in Sweden.

Informants were recruited from respondents in a quantitative study of being subjected to IPV, Ill health, seeking behaviour conducted in men and women in the general population (n = 1510, response rate 37%) and at two primary health care centres (n = 129, response rate 70%) recruited from the random population sample.

Constructivist grounded theory

After each interview, codes & categories created in analysis helped to choose the next informant, and the guide was modified to explore related topics & elaborate categories. A constant comparative analysis both within an interview and between interviews. Next focused coding was used in which most significant line-by-line codes were used

Tsui

2010 [26]

USA

960 DVA services across USA

Survey consists of five closed ended

questions two open-ended questions

& 13 demographic questions

To examine the needs of male victims to identify factors that block men from seeking help.’

Sixty-eight agency representatives responded.

Mean age 43 yrs. 72% female

81% Caucasian

7.3% Hispanic

5.9% African American

88.2% held an academic degree

84% were professional or managerial staff in the DVA organizations

None stated

Qualitative data were coded to thematic units. Similar units with meaning related to male victims were assigned to categories and organized into themes and further reviewed by research team to enhance face & content validity.

Valentine

2013 [27]

USA

Men recruited

from university-affiliated, outpatient HIV/AIDS primary care clinic

Qualitative interview study

To qualitatively explore the ways in which such men find meaning following their experiences of partner abuse

(n = 28) ≥18 yrs., English-speaking, currently receiving HIV-related care at the clinic site.

Mean age 43.6, SD 5 6.2

Male 24, Transgender 4. Gay 23, Bisexual 3

Bi spirit 1, Other 1

Currently in relationship 12

Living with partner 6

Relationship status unknown 10

White/European 13 Black/African American 8, Latino/Hispanic 2

American, Indian/Alaskan Native 3 Biracial/multiracial

None stated

Data analysis was conducted by a team who contributed to the reading, coding, categorizing, Consistent with conventional content analysis, no codes, categories, or themes were specified a priori (Hsieh & Shannon, 2005). To establish dependability (Morrow, 2005), all three reviewers met to compare codes and reach a consensus.