Although male perpetration of violence against female partners is a global concern, there continues to be insufficient research attention on this phenomenon. The current study aimed at exploring experiences of male perpetrators of violence against their female partners in intimate relationships. The specific objectives were to get an understanding of the reasons and beliefs contributing towards perpetration of domestic violence, explore the barriers that perpetrators encounter with regard to receiving reformative support, and to suggest possible strategies that can be adopted to reduce or prevent domestic violence. Adopting a qualitative approach, data were obtained through in-depth interviews and participant observations involving 22 convicted male perpetrators in the Nsawam Prisons in the Eastern Region of Ghana, followed by interviews with stakeholders at the offices of the Domestic Violence & Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service. The Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to analyse the data. Each transcript went through a thorough analysis to extract themes which were subsequently Synchronised. Overall, the findings from the present study elucidated some theoretical and practical implications. It reveals the following major themes: perception of inequality between sexes, bride price, childhood experience/witness of abuse, and victim blaming as contributory factors to the phenomenon of male violence against women. / Psychology / Ph. D. (Psychology)

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Global estimates show that sub-Saharan Africa has the largest portion of HIV cases with South Africa having more people living with HIV than any other country in the world. Moreover, studies have shown a high incidence of intimate partner violence (IPV) among people living with HIV. IPV has been shown to be associated with mental health problems. Considerable empirical studies have demonstrated that HIV is a highly stigmatized disease. In addition, HIV-related stigma has also been shown to be a risk factor for mental health problems among persons living with HIV. However, no empirical studies have examined the combined effect of IPV and HIV-related stigma on mental health. This thesis builds on the existing body of research by examining to what extent the linear combination of IPV (timing and frequency) and HIV related stigma explained variation in symptoms of common mental health disorders in both men and women living with HIV. In addition, theoretical and empirical studies have suggested that social support may serve as a protective factor in the relationship between IPV, HIV-related stigma, and mental health. Yet, despite the increasing attention, no known studies have focused on the mediating or moderating role of social support in the relationship between IPV or HIV-related stigma, and mental health. This thesis examined the extent to which social support played a mediating or moderating role in these relationships. The study used a cross-sectional research design to study a convenience sample of 210 people living with HIV in three peri-urban areas in the Western Cape, South Africa. Participants completed a battery of self-report questionnaires that assessed IPV (timing and frequency), HIV-related stigma, social support, and symptoms of common mental health. The results from the hierarchical multiple regression analysis demonstrated that the linear combination of psychological aggression frequency and HIV related stigma explained a significant portion of the variance in symptoms of depression. Likewise, both physical assault timing and psychological aggression timing combined with HIV-related stigma explained a significant portion of variance in symptoms of depression. Psychological aggression timing combined with HIV-related stigma significantly explained variance in symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The results from the product-term regression analyses indicated that social support played a mediating role in the relationship between HIV-related stigma and symptoms of PTSD, but not depression. Social support did not moderate the relationship between HIV-related stigma and symptoms of common mental health disorders. In conclusion, the combination of IPV (physical assault and psychological aggression) and HIV-related stigma explained a significant portion of the variance in symptoms of common mental health disorders. Future research is needed for a better understanding of these relationships. A longitudinal experimental design is recommended in order to explore the direction of these relationships and to examine the context in which the IPV, HIV-related stigma, and social support is experienced. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Wêreldwye beramings toon dat sub-Sahara Afrika die grootste gedeelte van HIV gevalle te wêreld het, terwyl Suid-Afrika meer mense het wat met MIV leef as enige ander land in die wêreld. Verder het studies getoon dat daar 'n hoë voorkoms van intiemepaargeweld (IPV) is onder mense wat met MIV leef. Daar is al getoon dat IPV verband hou met geestelike probleme. Aansienlike empiriese studies het getoon dat MIV 'n hoogs gestigmatiseer siekte is. Daarbenewens, is daar getoon dat MIV-verwante stigma 'n risiko faktor is vir geestelike probleme onder persone wat leef met MIV. Daar is egter geen empiriese studies wat die gekombineerde effek van IPV en MIV-verwante stigma op geestesgesondheid ondersoek nie. Hierdie tesis bou voort op die bestaande navorsing deur te ondersoek tot watter mate die lineêre kombinasie van IPV (tydsberekening en frekwensie) en MIV-verwante stigma variasie in die simptome van algemene geestesgesondheid afwykings verduidelik in beide mans en vroue wat met MIV leef. Daarbenewens, het teoretiese en empiriese studies voorgestel dat sosiale ondersteuning kan dien as 'n beskermende faktor in die verhouding tussen IPV, MIV-verwante stigma, en geestesgesondheid. Tog, ten spyte van die toenemende aandag, het daar al geen studies gefokus op die bemiddelende of modererende rol van sosiale ondersteuning in die verhouding tussen IPV of MIV-verwante stigma, en geestesgesondheid. Hierdie tesis ondersoek die mate waarin sosiale ondersteuning 'n bemiddelende of modererende rol speel in hierdie verhoudings. Die studie het 'n deursnee-navorsing ontwerp gebruik om 'n gerieflikheidsteekproef van 210 mense wat met MIV leef in drie peri-stedelike gebiede in die Wes-Kaap, Suid-Afrika te bestudeer. Deelnemers het 'n battery van self-verslag vraelyste voltooi wat IPV (tydsberekening en frekwensie), MIV-verwante stigma, sosiale ondersteuning, en simptome van algemene geestesgesondheid geassesseer het. Die resultate van die hiërargiese meervoudige regressie-analise het getoon dat die lineêre kombinasie van sielkundige aggressie frekwensie en MIV-verwante stigma 'n beduidende deel van die variansie in simptome van depressie verduidelik. Net so, het beide fisiese aanranding tydsberekening en sielkundige aggressie tydsberekening gekombineer met MIV-verwante stigma 'n beduidende deel van die variansie in simptome van depressie verduidelik. Sielkundige aggressie tydsberekening gekombineer met MIV-verwante stigma het „n beduidende variansie in simptome van post-traumatiese stresversteuring (PTSV) verduidelik. Die resultate van die produk-term regressie-analises het aangedui dat sosiale ondersteuning 'n bemiddelende rol speel in die verhouding tussen MIV-verwante stigma en simptome van PTSV, maar nie depressie nie. Sosiale ondersteuning het nie die verhouding tussen MIV-verwante stigma en simptome van algemene geestesgesondheid versteurings modereer nie. Ten slotte, die kombinasie van IPV (fisiese aanranding en sielkundige aggressie) en MIV-verwante stigma het 'n beduidende deel van die variansie in simptome van algemene geestesgesondheid versteurings verduidelik. Toekomstige navorsing is nodig vir 'n beter begrip van hierdie verhoudings. 'n Longitudinale eksperimentele ontwerp word aanbeveel om die rigting van hierdie verhoudings te verken en die konteks waarin die IPV, MIV-verwante stigma en sosiale ondersteuning ervaar is te ondersoek.

The present research aimed to address two questions. First, is dating anxiety associated with sexual intimacy anxiety? Second, do young people who report harmful sexual behaviour, as an offence or harmful dating behaviour, have higher levels of dating and sexual intimacy anxiety than young people who report no harm, non-sexual harm or sexual and non-sexual harm (generalists)? The Dating Anxiety Scale for Adolescents (DAS-A) was used to measure overall dating anxiety. Questions relating DAS-A sub-factors fear of negative evaluation and social distress - dating were amended to measure sexual intimacy anxiety. A scale to measure partnership anxiety and sexual behaviour anxiety were designed. Participants were 77 young people aged 13 to 18 years (M = 15.4, SD = 1.41). Forty-five (58%) of participants were female and 32 (42%) participants were male. Results found a strong, significant association between higher levels of dating anxiety and higher levels of sexual intimacy anxiety r(75) = .80, p < .001. Young people who reported a sexual offence had significantly higher sexual behaviour anxiety than non-sexual offence (M = 15.82, SD = 6.23, p = .005) and generalist offence groups (M = 21.77, SD = 6.53, p = .044). Despite no other significant differences, a pattern emerged that suggests young people who report harmful sexual or generalist dating behaviour may have higher dating and sexual intimacy anxieties. Furthermore, young people who report harmful dating behaviour may have higher anxieties than young people who report an offence. The implications of the findings for future harmful sexual behaviour and harmful dating behaviour research and practice are discussed.

Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis is an ideological critical analysis of Ezekiel 16 and 23 in the South African context of Intimate Partner Violence. The ideology of patriarchy and the ideology of violence were used as a hermeneutical framework in the interpretation of the occurrences patriarchy and violence in Ezekiel 16 and 23. The ideological critical analysis of Ezekiel 16 and 23 consist of an extrinsic and intrinsic analysis. Accordingly it is assumed that the presumed audience is the ruling class in exile. In the extrinsic analysis the semantic, syntactic, and morphological occurrences of the marriage metaphor, adultery/prostitution, sexuality, violence metaphors, rape, and shame in Ezekiel 16 and 23 was researched. It was found that adultery/prostitution fulfills a central role in these texts. Therefore, the sexuality in the texts operates as a transition to the violence in Ezekiel 16 and 23. The research of the social context of the abovementioned themes made it clear that the covenant making aspect of the marriage is an important theme in Ezekiel 16 and 23, and that adultery is seen in a worse light than prostitution because of the detrimental effect adultery had on the covenant part of the marriage. It was further found that sexuality was socially strictly controlled, and that the ideology of violence occurred among the ruling class as an honorable form of war. In the intrinsic analysis the rhetorical and theological power of the abovementioned themes was researched. It was found that the vehicle of the implicit patriarchy of the marriage has the ability to provide the tenor of the marriage metaphor namely the YHWH-Israel relationship (the covenant), with more rhetorical and theological power. In the proposals for a contextual reading of Ezekiel 16 and 23, the problem of a violent God was considered, arguing that the covenant creates a space for this understanding of God, but also that this divine image can by ethically reinterpreted in connection to the covenant. The idea of a violent God was further discussed in terms of the Theodicy question. An ideological critical analysis is able to acknowledge the anger of God, but also the anger of humans. In connection to Intimate Partner Violence the metaphors in Ezekiel 16 and 23 cannot be seen as innocent and ought to be critically evaluated. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie tesis is ʼn ideologies kritiese analise van Esegiël 16 en 23 gedoen in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks van Intieme Maat Geweld. Die ideologie van patriargie en die ideologie van geweld is gebruik as ʼn hermeneutiese raamwerk om die voorkoms van patriargie en geweld in Esegiël 16 en 23 te interpreteer. Die ideologies kritiese analise van Esegiël 16 en 23 bestaan uit ‘n ekstrinsieke en ‘n intrinsieke analise. Hiervolgens word aangeneem dat die veronderstelde gehoor die heersersklas in ballingskap is. In die ekstrinsieke analise word die semantiese, sintaktiese, en morfologiese voorkoms van die huweliksmetafoor, ontrouheid/prostitusie, seksualiteit, geweldsmetafore, verkragting, en skaamte in Esegiël 16 en 23 ondersoek. Daar is gevind dat ontrouheid/prostitusie ʼn sentrale rol in die tekste vervul. So bied die seksualiteit in die tekste ‘n oorgang na die geweld in Esegiël 16 en 23. In ‘n sosiale ondersoek ten opsigte van die bogenoemde temas is daar gevind dat die verbondsluiting van die huwelik ‘n belangrike tema in Esegiël 16 en 23 is, en dat ontrouheid in ʼn ernstiger lig as prostitusie gesien is, omdat ontrouheid aan die vrou se kant die verbond van die huwelik kon skade aandoen. Daar word verder aangetoon dat seksualiteit sosiaal streng beheer is, en dat die ideologie van geweld by die heerserklas voorkom in terme van eerbare vorme van oorlog. In die intrinsieke analise is die retoriese en teologiese krag van die bogenoemde temas ondersoek. Daar is gevind dat die voertuig van die implisiete patriargie van die huwelik oor die vermoë beskik om die tenoor van die huweliksmetafoor, naamlik die YHWH-Israel verhouding wat uitmond in die verbond, meer retoriese en teologiese krag te gee. In die voorstelle vir ‘n kontekstuele lees van Esegiël 16 en 23 is daar gekyk na die probleem van ‘n gewelddadige God en hoe die verbond ruimte laat vir hierdie verstaan van God, maar ook hoe hierdie Godsbeeld eties herinterpreteer kan word ten opsigte van die verbond. Die idee van ‘n gewelddadige God is verder in terme van die Teodisee vraagstuk bespreek. ‘n Ideologies kritiese analise het die vermoë om God se woede te erken, maar ook die woede van die mens in oënskou te neem. Ten opsigte van Intieme Maat Geweld kan die metafore in Esegiël 16 en 23 nie as onskuldig gesien word nie, en moet krities geëvalueer word.

Thesis (DPhil (Sociology and Social Anthropology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The World Health Organisation recognises intimate partner violence (IPV) to be of major consequence to women’s mental and physical health, yet in South Africa it remains a neglected area of care. Within a professional action research framework, this study implemented a previously recommended South African protocol for the screening and holistic management of IPV in women in order to test its feasibility and to adapt it for use in the primary health care (PHC) sector of the Western Cape. It also aimed to identify the current nature of care offered to female survivors of IPV. Thirdly, it aimed to learn from the process of training and supporting (nurse) researchers who were new to the action research paradigm and methodology. Successfully implementing and evaluating a complex health intervention in the current PHC scenario required a flexible methodology which could enable real engagement with, and a creative response to, the issues as they emerged. Guided by the British Medical Research Council’s framework for development and evaluation of randomised controlled trials for complex health interventions (Medical Research Council, 2000, p.3), this study was positioned within the modelling phase. Professional action research used a co-operative inquiry group process as the overarching method with the usual cycles of action, observation, reflection and planning. Altogether five co-researchers were involved in implementing the protocol and were members of the inquiry group. A number of techniques were used to observe and reflect on experience, including participant interviews, key informant interviews, focus groups with health care providers at each site, quantitative data from the medical records and protocol, field notes and academic literature. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Wêreld Gesondheidsorganisasie erken dat geweldpleging in intieme verhoudings (“intimate partner violence”, of IPV) ‘n groot impak het op vroue se geestes- en fisiese gesondheid, terwyl dit ʼn verwaarloosde area van sorg in Suid-Afrika is. Binne ‘n professionele aksie-navorsingsraamwerk, implementeer hierdie studie ‘n voorheen aanbevole Suid-Afrikaanse protokol vir die sifting en holistiese hantering van IPV by vroue om die uitvoerbaarheid daarvan te toets en om dit aan te pas vir gebruik in die primêre gesondheidsorgsektor (PGS) van die Wes-Kaap. Die projek poog ook om die huidige aard van sorg wat aan vroulike oorlewendes van IPV beskikbaar is, te identifiseer. Derdens het dit ook ten doel om te leer van die proses van opleiding en ondersteuning van (verpleeg-) navorsers vir wie die aksie-navorsingsparadigma en methodologie nuut was. Suksesvolle implementering en evaluering van ‘n komplekse gesondheidsintervensie in die huidige PGS scenario vereis ‘n buigsame methodologie wat betrokkenheid met, en ‘n kreatiewe respons tot, kwessies soos wat dit ontwikkel, moontlik maak. Gelei deur die Britse Mediese Navorsingsraad se raamwerk vir die ontwikkeling en evaluering van ewekansige gekontroleerde proewe vir komplekse gesondheidsintervensies (Mediese Navorsingsraad, 2000, bl.3), was hierdie studie binne die modelleringsfase geposisioneer. Professionele aksienavorsing het ‘n gekoördineerde ondersoekgroep as die oorkoepelende metode - met die normale siklusse van aksie, waarneming, reflektering en beplanning - gebruik. Altesaam vyf mede-navorsers wat lede van die ondersoekgroep was, was betrokke in die implementering van die protokol. ‘n Aantal tegnieke is gebruik om waar te neem en te reflekteer op ervarings, insluitend deelnemersonderhoude, sleutel-informant onderhoude, fokusgroepe met gesondheidsorgverskaffers by elke fasiliteit, kwantitatiewe data van die mediese verslae en protokol, veldnotas en akademiese literatuur.

Les jeunes adultes sont plus susceptibles de subir de la violence conjugale que les adultes plus âgés. Toutefois, l'effet de se confier à propos de la violence subie sur la santé mentale est peu connu. L'objectif de cette étude est d'explorer les liens entre la violence conjugale, le soutien social et la détresse psychologique selon le sexe dans un échantillon de 233 jeunes couples. Les résultats indiquent que, pour les femmes, la fréquence de la violence psychologique subie, mais pas celle de la violence physique, était positivement associée à la détresse psychologique. Pour ces femmes, recourir à un plus grand nombre de confidents diminue la force de la relation entre la violence et de leur niveau de détresse psychologique. Pour les hommes, les fréquences de la violence physique et psychologique subies étaient positivement liées à la détresse psychologique, mais contrairement aux femmes, plus ils se sont confiés à propos de la violence qu'ils ont subi, plus leur niveau de détresse est élevé. / Young adults are more likely to experience intimate partner violence (IPV) than older adults but little is known about the effect of confiding to others about the sustained violence on their mental health. The objective of this study was to explore the links between IPV, help-seeking and psychological distress by gender in a sample of 233 young couples. Our findings indicate that for women, the frequency of sustained psychological violence, but not of physical violence, was positively associated to psychological distress and that for these women, seeking help from a greater number of confidents decreased the strength of the association between violence and their level of psychological distress. Secondly, for men, the frequency of physical and psychological violence were both positively linked to psychological distress but unlike women, the more people they talked to about the violence they have sustained, the greater their level of distress was.

Devenir mère à l’adolescence peut représenter une situation d’adversité et est associée à des impacts délétères possibles sur la vie de la jeune mère et de ses enfants. Être victime de violence de la part de son partenaire peut aussi représenter une adversité importante, notamment en regard de ses conséquences préjudiciables sur la santé. Cumulées, ces deux adversités peuvent sérieusement compromettre le parcours de vie d’une jeune femme. Cependant, des jeunes mères surmontent ces adversités. S’appuyant sur un cadre de référence composé par l’approche intersectionnelle et la perspective des parcours de vie, cette thèse permet une meilleure compréhension des différentes composantes d’une trajectoire de résilience en contexte de double adversité. Une part importante de cette thèse permet aussi de mieux documenter le contexte de la maternité précoce vécue dans un contexte de violence conjugale, une situation peu étudiée au Québec. Des jeunes mères ayant donné naissance précocement dans un contexte relationnel adverse qui estiment avoir surmonté ces obstacles et qui sont reconnues comme étant résilientes par les intervenants avec qui elles sont en contact participent à cette étude exploratoire. Ces 19 femmes ont partagé leur histoire par le biais d’entretiens individuels ou d’entretiens de groupe. Des observations participantes échelonnées sur neuf mois complètent cette collecte de données, permettant une meilleure compréhension et contextualisation de la maternité précoce et des défis qui lui sont associés. Leurs propos, retranscris puis analysés de façon séquentielle selon une démarche inspirée des stratégies d’analyse de théorisation ancrée, sont au cœur de l’analyse. Le modèle théorique de la résilience présenté dans cette thèse est constitué de cinq composantes : l’adversité, le point tournant, les processus, les facteurs promoteurs et les facteurs de vulnérabilités. Des indicateurs pouvant témoigner de la présence d’une trajectoire de résilience sont aussi proposés. Parmi les résultats importants de cette étude, notons l’importance de la maternité comme point tournant dans la vie de ces jeunes femmes. En effet, la maternité module la trajectoire de résilience notamment en leur permettant de créer un lien significatif avec leur bébé et de développer un sentiment de responsabilité face à celui-ci. Cette étude permet aussi de mieux cerner les processus permettant le déploiement d’une trajectoire de résilience : 1) Créer un milieu de vie sain pour l’enfant, 2) S’activer face au contexte relationnel adverse, 3) Mobiliser et utiliser les ressources disponibles et 4) Se servir du passé pour aller vers l’avant : (ré)investir les habiletés et ressources développées lors d’adversités antérieures. Les facteurs promoteurs, tout comme les facteurs de vulnérabilité, s’inscrivent dans une lecture systémique et relèvent de différents niveaux écologiques. Alors que les premiers constituent des points d’ancrage sur lesquels peuvent s’appuyer le déploiement et le maintien d’une trajectoire résiliente, les seconds fragilisent cette trajectoire. Les retombées possibles de cette étude pour l’intervention et la recherche dans le domaine de la promotion de la santé sont aussi abordées, notamment sous forme de pistes de réflexion et d’action. / Giving birth at a young age may represent a situation of adversity affecting the life of young women and their children. Being a victim of violence at the hands of an intimate partner also represents an important source of adversity, notably because this may lead to numerous consequences on health. Jointly, those two sources of adversity can seriously affect a life course trajectory. However, young mothers may overcome those obstacles. Based on a joint intersectional approach and a life course perspective, this study allows for a better understanding of the different components of a resilience trajectory in a context of dual adversity. As very few studies done in Quebec exist on this subject, an important part of this thesis is also devoted to expanding the literature on early pregnancy in a context of intimate violence. Young mothers who gave birth in a context of adversity (victims of relational violence), who identified themselves as resilient and who were recognised as such by the counsellors with whom they are in contact, participated in this exploratory study. These 19 women shared their stories through in-depth and group interviews. Additionally, field observations allowed for a better understanding and contextualization of early pregnancy and its associated challenges. Their words and stories, transcribed and then analyzed sequentially in a manner inspired by grounded theory analysis strategies, are at the center of the analysis. The theoretical model of a resilience trajectory presented in this thesis has five components: the source(s) of adversity, the turning point, the processes, the promoting factors, and the vulnerability factors. Indicators that can help identify a resilience trajectory are also proposed. One of the notable aspects that emerges from this study is the importance of maternity as a turning point. Indeed, motherhood accentuates the resilience of these women’s life course trajectory, mainly by allowing them to create a bond with their baby, who depends on them for his or her survival and needs. This study also provides a better understanding of the processes that helped these mothers overcome difficulties: 1) building a life setting better suited for their child ; 2) activating themselves in regards to their toxic relationships; 3) mobilizing and using existing resources and 4) using the past to move forward: (re)investing in skills and knowledge gained through previous adversities. The promoting factors, as well as the vulnerability factors, are rooted in a systemic lecture and can be associated to various ecological levels. While the formers represent elements upon which a resilience trajectory may originate and expand, the latters may weaken that trajectory. Possible outcomes of this study for health promotion research and intervention are discussed, notably in terms of future action and reflection.

No description available.

The aim of this study is to examine Swedish social work students’ norms and values towards homosexuality and intimate partner violence in homosexual relationships, in order to establish an increased understanding for whether social work students contribute to or challenge the heteronormative beliefs that can occur in social work. Previous studies have shown that professional social workers tend to perceive individuals who are homosexual and exposed to intimate partner violence as less serious than individuals who are in a heterosexual relationship, and therefore individuals who are homosexual are more likely to receive a lesser support and treatment. Furthermore, studies show that heteronormativity is prevalent within social work education. In addition, studies show that social work education further needs to implement different sexualities and intimate partner violence, regardless the individual’s sexual orientation in the syllabus.The chosen method for this study was focus group interviews with a vignette about intimate partner violence, which was executed with social work students from two different universities in Sweden. The empirical material has been analyzed using previous studies and theoretical perspectives such as queer theory, heteronormativity and gender. The empirical material shows that social work students in Sweden do not show any heteronormative beliefs, however they tend to show and maintain biases about gender. Furthermore, the empirical material indicate that social work students have a general knowledge about intimate partner violence, however they disclose that they do not possess knowledge about the differences in intimate partner violence regarding homosexual relationships. Lastly the empirical material shows that social work students depicts that heteronormativity is prevalent within social work education, furthermore social work students claims the necessity of that the syllabus further implement a content regarding intimate partner violence and how the faculty refer to individuals who do not identify themselves as heterosexuals.

Background: Intimate partner violence is a public health issue that causes suffering for victims, abusers and children. Interventions have been made to prevent and treat the problem but the evaluation of them are often insufficient. The clinic for intimate partner violence in Uppsala (MVU) offers abusers treatment to stop using domestic violence. Aim: To produce a general evaluation of MVU’s treatment for aggression- and violence problematics in intimate relationships by studying participating men’s experiences of the treatment. Method: A qualitative interview study was used. By using a retrospective consecutive sample 11 men were recruited to individual semi structured interviews. Data was analyzed by thematic analysis. The ecological model was used as a theoretic perspective. Result: The study showed that the informants had positive experiences of the arrangement of the treatment and the content was educative even though somewhat demanding. The therapists were considered to be competent and had a way of working that was suitable for the purpose of the treatment. Those who had been in group therapy found help and support from the group and several men missed the group when the treatment was finished. After the treatment the informants had come to realize that they had a violence issue that they were responsible of. They had learned to control their temper in a better way and had become better at communicating. They also experienced health improvements. Conclusion: Men have a predominately positive experience of the treatment at MVU. The treatment was in some aspects considered mentally challenging but overall the men experienced better health after the treatment compared to before. / Bakgrund: Våld i nära relationer är ett folkhälsoproblem som orsakar lidande för offer, utövare och eventuella barn. Insatser har utformats för att förebygga och behandla problemet men ofta är utvärderingen av dem bristfällig. Mottagningen mot våld i nära relationer i Uppsala (MVU) erbjuder våldsutövare behandling för att sluta bruka våld i nära relationer. Syfte: Att göra en generell utvärdering av MVU:s behandling mot aggressions- och våldsproblematik i nära relationer genom att studera deltagande mäns upplevelser av behandlingen. Metod: En kvalitativ intervjustudie användes. Genom ett retrospektivt konsekutivt urval rekryterades 11 män till individuella semistrukturerade intervjuer. Data analyserades med tematisk analys. Den ekologiska modellen tillämpades som teoretiskt perspektiv. Resultat: Studien visade att informanterna upplevde behandlingens upplägg som bra och innehållet lärorikt om än något krävande. Terapeuterna upplevdes vara kompetenta och arbeta på ett sätt lämpligt för behandlingens syfte. De som hade gått i gruppbehandling fann hjälp och stöd i gruppen och flera sakande gruppen efter avslutad behandling. Efter behandlingen hade informanterna kommit till insikt om att de hade ett våldsproblem som de själva var ansvariga över. De hade lärt sig att hantera sitt humör på ett bättre sätt och blivit bättre på att kommunicera. De upplevde även hälsoförbättringar. Slutsats: Män har en övervägande positiv upplevelse av MVU:s behandling. Behandlingen upplevdes i en del avseenden som psykiskt krävande men efter behandlingen mådde männen överlag bättre än före behandlingen.