Intimate partner violence victimization, endorsement of masculinity norms, and post-traumatic stress disorder among non-Latino Black, Latino, and non-Latino White male IPV victims: A moderation analysis

OBJECTIVE: We examined racial/ethnic differences in endorsement of masculinity norms, intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and sociodemographic factors among non-Latino Black, Latino, and non-Latino White men. We also assessed the direct effects of IPV and endorsement of masculinity norms on PTSD, and the moderating effects of endorsement of masculinity norms on the IPV-PTSD relationship, controlling for relevant covariates. METHOD: Participants (N = 1194; non-Latino Black: n = 299, non-Latino White: n = 299, and Latino: n = 596 men) were recruited via Centiment, a crowd-sourcing platform. Bivariate analyses examined racial/ethnic differences across study variables. Structural equation models tested the independent effects of IPV victimization and endorsement of masculinity norms on PTSD symptoms, and the moderating role of endorsement of masculinity norms in the IPV-PTSD relationship. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were observed in endorsement of masculinity norms and IPV victimization, but not PTSD symptoms. IPV victimization and endorsement of masculinity norms was significantly associated with PTSD symptoms for both Latino and White men. For Black men, only IPV victimization was associated with PTSD symptoms. Endorsement of masculinity norms did not moderate the IPV-PTSD relationship for any racial/ethnic group. CONCLUSION: IPV victimization was associated with increased PTSD symptoms in male survivors. Although endorsement of masculinity norms was associated with PTSD symptomology for Latino and White men, it did not moderate the IPV-PTSD relationship for any racial/ethnic groups. These findings highlight that interventions should be tailored to men across cultures and contexts. Trauma-informed interventions should assess how beliefs about masculinity norms may improve disclosure, engagement, and recovery among male IPV victims.