Physical and Sexual Violence Experienced by Male War-Affected Youth: Implications for Post-Conflict Functioning and Intimate Relationships

Abstract

This study explored the association between war violence exposure during armed conflict and intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization, and the impact of positive community and family reintegration on IPV among a sample ( N = 92) of war-affected male youth, post-conflict Sierra Leone. Trained Sierra Leonean researchers conducted face-to-face interviews with youth and their caregivers. Results indicate that exposure to violence during armed conflict as well as community and family reintegration were negatively associated with psychological IPV perpetration. Community reintegration was negatively associated with physical IPV. Sexual victimization was negatively associated with sexual IPV perpetration, whereas physical victimization had positive association. More research needs to be done on male war-affected youth as victims of physical, psychological, and sexual violence during conflict and the impact this has on the quality of their intimate relationships, occurrence of IPV in those relationships (as victims in addition to being perpetrators), and their community reintegration.

Factors Influencing Lifetime Perpetration of Intimate Partner Violence Among Ever-Partnered Men in South Sudan

“…For one, our findings highlight the link between being a victim of physical violence (perpetrated by a non-partner) and lifetime perpetration of IPV. This association between exposure to conflict and perpetration of IPV has also been found in other major studies of men’s perpetration of violence (Feki, Barker and Heilman 2017; Fleming et al, 2015; Slegh, Barker and Levtov, 2013; Alleyne-Green et al 2021). These findings suggest that when men themselves are victimized by violence, they may turn to violence as a way to reclaim their manhood and reassert their dominance over others.…”

“…By expanding our focus beyond women’s experiences, our study aims to contribute to the literature on the drivers of IPV by examining the role of conflict and hegemonic masculinity in South Sudan. This understanding should help inform culturally effective interventions for addressing IPV in conflict-affected settings by tackling the interaction between masculine hegemony and the normalization of violence, which can manifest through men’s controlling behaviors and permissive beliefs regarding the use of violence against women partners and may also be, in part, fueled by men’s own exposure to trauma and conflict (e.g., Feki, Barker and Heilman 2017; Fleming et al, 2015; Slegh, Barker and Levtov, 2014; Alleyne-Green et al 2021).…”

“…While not as widely studied as the use of sexual violence, researchers have also explored connections between militarized masculinities and the use of violence within intimate relationships as hyper-masculinities promoted on the battlefield are not left there and can lead to increased aggression and violence as men return home (e.g., Charlesworth and Wood 2001; Swaine 2018). Furthermore, men who have experienced violence themselves have been found to be more likely to perpetrate IPV, even years after the conflict ends (e.g., Alleyne-Green et al 2021; Jewkes, Fulu and Sikweyiya 2013). In particular, men who have experienced gendered violence (like sexual violence) may feel that their masculinity has been challenged and may seek to utilize violence against others to regain what they feel they have lost.…”

Characteristics and Impacts of Sexual Violence Against Men and Boys in Conflict and Displacement: A Multicountry Exploratory Study

“…Further impacts, such as at the community level and any potential linkages between conflict-related sexual violence victimization and perpetration of intimate partner violence (cf. Alleyne-Green et al, 2018) warrant exploration.…”

Alcohol Use and Physical Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration Among Black Men: The Moderating Effect of Interpersonal Social Support

“…Studies have consistently found an association between IPV perpetration and negative short- and long-term mental and behavioral health consequences such as depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (Yu et al, 2019), adverse childhood experiences (Alleyne-Green et al, 2018; Watt & Scrandis, 2013), and substance abuse (e.g., alcohol use; Radcliffe et al, 2017; Shern et al, 2016). However, factors such as high friendship quality and social support have been shown to protect against IPV perpetration (CDC, 2020).…”