Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic men’s experiences of gender-based violence, help-seeking behaviours and psychosocial interventions in the United Kingdom: a systematic review

Background: Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is an issue of public health concern. Yet most research on GBV focuses predominantly on women. A gap remains in a review of Black Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) men’s experiences of gender-based violence, help-seeking behaviours, and interventions to improve their psychosocial wellbeing in the United Kingdom. This review addressed the gap. Methods: Six databases were searched (PsycINFO, ProQuest Central, Scopus, Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstract, PudMed, and Embase) for published articles between 2011 and June 2025. N = 10 studies met the inclusion criteria. The relevant data were synthesised and thematically analysed. Findings: The review found that sexual and physical abuse, masculinity, and societal perceptions of men as abusers pose barriers to help-seeking. Religio-cultural factors, including psychological effects, victimisation from service providers, also limit help-seeking. It also found that there was persistent recourse to informal platforms for support alongside limited psychosocial interventions. Conclusion: Culturally adapted psychosocial interventions are suggested alongside testing using randomised controlled trials. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420261280683, identifier PROSPERO (CRD420261280683).