• The link between IPV and suicidality in males remains underexplored and needs further investigation. • Longitudinal data was drawn from three waves of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Male Health. • IPV exposure and use were strongly linked to suicidal ideation and attempts cross-sectionally and over time. • The study highlights the need to integrate violence and suicide prevention efforts for males. Evidence regarding the linkage between intimate partner violence (IPV) and suicidality among males is limited. This gap contributes to a siloed approach to prevention of these important public health concerns. To examine the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between IPV use, exposure and suicidality (suicidal ideation and attempts) among Australian adult males. Data were drawn from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Male Health (n = 13,898), spanning baseline, two-year, and six-year follow-ups. IPV exposure and use were assessed at Wave 1. Cross-sectional associations with lifetime suicidal ideation and attempts were examined at baseline, and prospective associations with suicidal ideation and attempts in the preceding 12 months were assessed at Waves 2 and 3. Modified Poisson and logistic regression models were applied. At baseline, 30.3% reported IPV exposure and 23.7% reported IPV use. Both IPV exposure (RR = 1.85; 95% CI: 1.69–2.02) and IPV use (RR = 1.96; 95% CI: 1.79–2.14) were associated with lifetime suicidal ideation; each was also linked with more than twice the odds of lifetime suicide attempts. IPV exposure and use at Wave 1 prospectively predicted suicidal ideation and attempts two years later, but these associations were no longer evident at the six-year follow-up. Males reporting both IPV exposure and use had the highest risk, though combined effects were less than multiplicative. Findings highlight the need for integrated IPV and suicide-prevention approaches and suggest that targeted mental-health assessment and early intervention is needed. Addressing male suicidality needs to therefore complement, rather than compete with, IPV-prevention efforts.
Krishnamoorthy et al. (Sun,) studied this question.