The Reality of Intimate Partner Violence Unveiled: Estonia's Shocking Findings
Approximately One Third of Estonian Male Population Encounters Intimate Partner Violence
In an eye-opening survey conducted by Statistics Estonia, it's been revealed that an alarming 32% of men in Estonia have experienced some form of intimate partner violence in their lifetimes.
Jana Bruns, a project manager at Statistics Estonia, shared the shocking statistics, revealing that among men aged 18 to 74, 32% have suffered psychological violence, 8% physical violence, and 1% sexual violence. The most common victims are younger men aged 18 to 29, with 39% reporting violence, while the lowest cases are found among older men aged 65 to 74 at 24%.
According to the survey, 20% of men have experienced their partners becoming jealous or harboring unfounded suspicions of infidelity, while a similar 17% have felt degraded, humiliated, or insulted by their partners. One in thirteen men (13%) reported that their partners have restricted their contact with friends or stopped them from pursuing hobbies. Men also reported instances of their partners monitoring their movements (9%) and deliberately frightening or intimidating them (9%), often through shouting or damaging property.
An overwhelming two-thirds of ever-partnered men have experienced psychological violence from a former intimate partner, with one-third experiencing abuse from their current partner. A smaller 10% have experienced violence from both a former and current partner or more than one former partner.
The Double Edged Sword of Psychological and Physical Violence
The majority of men (60%) who have experienced violence have done so only once or rarely. Less than 5% experience frequent or constant psychological violence. Jana Bruns points out that men generally choose to leave violent relationships, as only 1.5% have experienced frequent violence from their current partner.
In addition to psychological violence, men also suffered physical violence. Six percent of men reported having had objects thrown at them or being hit in a way that caused injury or made them feel threatened. Four percent experienced being pushed, shoved, or having their hair pulled, while 3% suffered physical injuries from being deliberately hit or kicked or struck with a hard object. In almost one-third (30%) of cases where men were physically or sexually abused by an intimate partner, they sustained physical injuries.
Factors Contributing to Intimate Partner Violence
The survey also explored various factors that increase or decrease the likelihood of intimate partner violence. Women's anger or unfounded suspicions of infidelity were found to be more common in relationships where the man lived in urban areas, while rural areas did not seem to influence the occurrence of violence.
Interestingly, the education level and employment status of the men seemed to play a role in intimate partner violence. Men with lower education levels and those who were unemployed were more likely to experience intimate partner violence. Substance use was also implicated in over 40% of incidents of violence perpetrated by a current or former partner.
Speaking Up Against the Silence
Jana Bruns pointed out that men tend not to seek help when faced with problems. Instead, they prefer to address issues within their relationships through conversation rather than turning to authorities for help.
While specific data on intimate partner violence factors in Estonia, such as education level, unemployment, and substance use, are not readily available from the provided search results, research generally supports the idea that these factors play a role in intimate partner violence. To fully understand the situation in Estonia, one would need to consult reports or studies directly from Statistics Estonia or other relevant Estonian research institutions.
Read also: A visit to the heart of gender violence - a video exhibition in Tallinn and Merli Kaunissaar: when a court becomes a stage for an abuser to torment their victim.
- Jana Bruns suggests that men in Estonia, particularly younger ones, often experience a combination of mental health issues such as psychological violence, jealousy, and humiliation in their relationships, as revealed by the survey.
- The lifestyle choices and family dynamics may not directly influence the occurrence of intimate partner violence in urban areas, but factors such as lower education levels and unemployment seem to contribute, according to the survey findings.
- In addition to mental health issues, physical violence, including being hit, having objects thrown, and being injured, is also a concerning aspect, with over one-third of cases resulting in physical injuries.
- Love and dating in Estonia can be complex, with nearly one-third of men experiencing violence from former partners and one-third from current partners, according to the statistics presented by Jana Bruns.
- To foster a health-and-wellness environment, it is crucial for men to speak up about their experiences with intimate partner violence and seek help, as they tend to prefer addressing issues within their relationships through conversation rather than turning to authorities for help, as Jana Bruns emphasizes.
