Are males victims of intimate partner violence in Greece? Prevalence of the phenomenon and implications for mental health

OBJECTIVE To investigate the association between intimate partner violence (IPV) and mental health among males in a Greek population. METHODS A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in Greece in July 2026. IPV among males was assessed using the Woman Abuse Screening Tool (WAST), while the lifetime prevalence of physical, psychological/emotional, and sexual abuse was evaluated through three dichotomous self-report items (yes/no). Anxiety-like and depressive-like symptoms were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4). Sleep quality was assessed with the Single-Item Sleep Quality Scale (SQS), self-esteem with the Single-Item Self-Esteem Scale (SISE), loneliness with the UCLA 3-Item Loneliness Scale (UCLA-LS-3), and life satisfaction with the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). To account for the potential influence of demographic characteristics, multivariable linear regression analyses were performed with adjustment for relevant demographic confounding variables. RESULTS In the adjusted model, higher levels of males’ abuse (WAST score) were significantly associated with higher levels of anxiety-like symptoms. Additionally, levels of anxiety-like symptoms were higher among males that have experienced physical abuse, and psychological/emotional abuse through their lives. Multivariable model found that higher levels of males’ abuse (WAST score) were significantly associated with higher levels of depressive-like symptoms. Additionally, levels of depressive-like symptoms were higher among males that have experienced physical abuse, and psychological/emotional abuse through their lives. Sleep quality was worse among males that have experienced physical abuse, and psychological/emotional abuse through their lives. Higher levels of males’ abuse (WAST score) were significantly associated with lower levels of self-esteem. Additionally, levels of self-esteem were lower among males that have experienced physical abuse through their lives. Higher levels of males’ abuse (WAST score) were significantly associated with higher levels of loneliness. Higher levels of males’ abuse (WAST score) were significantly associated with lower levels of life satisfaction. Additionally, levels of life satisfaction were lower among males that have experienced psychological/emotional abuse through their lives. CONCLUSIONS IPV was significantly associated with poorer mental health and psychosocial well-being among males in Greece. Greater exposure to abusive behaviors was associated with higher levels of anxiety-like symptoms, depressive-like symptoms, and loneliness, as well as poorer sleep quality, lower self-esteem, and reduced life satisfaction. These findings highlight the substantial psychological burden associated with IPV and underscore its detrimental impact on multiple dimensions of mental health and well-being among male victims.