Academic surveys

From time to time, the charity receives request from academics or the media who would like male victims to take part in surveys. These form an important part of helping to ensure that the needs of male victims are adequately addressed.

The ManKind Initiative, however, does not take any responsibility for the content of these surveys or the requests.

Media/Survivors

If you are a male survivor and your ex-partner was convicted, we receive calls from the media regularly asking to speak to male survivors – if this is something you could consider helping with , please contact Mark Brooks via chairman@mankind.org.uk

(1) Have Your Say: Men’s Survivor Research Workshop

Have you experienced domestic abuse at any point in your life? Researchers from Swansea University and University of Birmingham are inviting men to take part in a workshop exploring how information collected by public services is used for research.

DASH (Domestic Abuse Survivors’ perceptions of public good and Harm in the use of administrative datasets for Public Health Research) aims to understand survivors’ views about the use of information already collected by services, e.g., healthcare, police, and courts. Your feedback will help ensure that future research is carried out safely, respectfully, and in ways that genuinely benefit survivors.

You will not be asked to discuss personal experiences of abuse. The workshop will focus on opinions about research, what good research looks like and how research findings should be communicated.

We are holding an in-person workshop in Birmingham in October 2026. Participants will be reimbursed £27.50 voucher per hour, and travel and childcare costs can be supported if you are travelling to us. Participation is voluntary, and you can contribute as much or as little as you feel comfortable.

To take part: you must be 18 or over, have lived experience of domestic abuse, and be willing to share your thoughts and opinions. All contributions are confidential and will not be linked to any identifying details.

To find out more: https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR169912

Or contact Enrico De Luca: e.deluca@bham.ac.uk, Dr Michaela James (m.l.james@swansea.ac.uk) or Dr El Molloy (e.molloy@bham.ac.uk).

There is no obligation to take part if you make an enquiry.

(2) Henrique Correia: Exeter University

Male Identity Formation and the Maternal Mediation of Masculinity

This doctoral research explores how male identity is formed in the absence of an emotionally engaged father, with a particular focus on how the mother mediates representations of masculinity. This study examines the broader processes through which masculinity is shaped when paternal emotional engagement is lacking. Emotional absence in this context refers to a father’s lack of emotional availability, support, or involvement in the relational dynamic of the family, which may manifest as emotional neglect, inconsistent caregiving, or psychological distance despite physical presence (Parker, 2017). This study investigates how the maternal figure influences constructions of masculinity and whether these representations challenge traditional psychoanalytic theories of male identity formation.

The study will focus on the experiences and perspectives of males aged 18 and older, using qualitative interviews with 10–12 participants. These interviews will explore how their mother’s influence, personal experiences, and external social factors have contributed to their understanding of masculinity and their own identity as males.

A voucher of £20 is provided for participation.

To Express Interest: Please contact Henrique Correia directly at: hd557@exeter.ac.uk

(3) Dr Ben Hine: University of West London

– New Research – We’re exploring a critical issue: Homelessness among men due to domestic violence and abuse (DVA). If you’ve experienced homelessness in the UK in the last 10 years and it’s related to DVA, we need to hear your story.

Your experiences matter and can make a difference. If you’re a man over 18 in the UK who has faced these challenges, please contact Ben.Hine@uwl.ac.uk for an interview. Let’s shed light on this issue and drive change.

(4) Dr Ben Hine: University of West London

My name is Ben Hine and I am a senior lecturer in Psychology at the University of West London. The focus of this project is the experiences of third party callers that have accessed the ManKind Initiative helpline on behalf of somebody else. My aim is to understand the potential barriers which may prevent some men from accessing help themselves. This study has been approved by the UWL ethics committee.

Participation of this survey is voluntary and all data will be kept confidential. You have the right to withdraw your data at any point should you decide to take part, and can leave questions blank if you do not wish to answer them. The survey consists of 5 demographic questions, followed by 11 open-ended questions. The survey may take around 20 minutes or longer, depending on how much detail you choose to go into.

Survey: https://uwlpsych.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_efdH4Udriywe9Lf