Male Survivors’ Perspectives of Incest/Sexual Abuse

Male Survivors' Perspectives of Incest/Sexual Abuse

Purpose

To show how understanding the aftereffects of incest and other forms of sexual abuse from male survivors' perspectives may help clinicians identify males with a possible history of sexual abuse.

Methods

Audiotaped interviews with 25 male survivors described the aftereffects in eight life areas. Data were analyzed by the double‐coding qualitative method.

Finding

Themes identified included isolation, anger, depression/suicidal feelings, addictions, or low sense of self, and distant relationships with men and women.

Conclusions

Clinicians need to explore the possibility of a history of sexual abuse with males who seek treatment for addictions, suicidal ideation, depression, and chronic low self‐esteem.

Phychiatric Mental Health, General Medicine