Psychosocial Adjustment and Psychopathology of Men Sexually Abused During Childhood

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate psychosocial adjustment and psychopathology among men sexually abused during their childhood and arrive at a better understanding of the reasons for which, following such sexual experiences, some adult males manifest greater distress than others. In total, 64 participants were interviewed and completed eight questionnaires covering various aspects of childhood and adult life. Results suggest the existence of three types of sexual abuse scenarios. Participants in each of these three groups presented with an adult-specific adjustment. However, the methodology and multivariate analyses used in this study suggest that some of these problems were not only associated with the sexual contacts but also with other childhood experiences and with the participant's cognitive, affective, and psychological resources.

Avoidant and compulsive sexual behaviors in male and female survivors of childhood sexual abuse

“…The present findings clearly showed that alternative sexual mediators may be useful markers of sexual difficulties in CSA survivors. In addition, our results go beyond the conclusions of past studies focusing either on sexual inhibition or on compulsiveness in samples consisted strictly of women or men (Forouzan & Van Gijseghem, 2005;Jacob & Veach, 2005;Lemieux & Byers, 2008;Parsons et al, 2012). Thus, they provide preliminary support for a dual-pathway model of sexual outcomes in CSA survivors such as those proposed by Aaron (2012) and Colangelo and Keefe-Cooperman (2012).…”

“…Most studies of sexual compulsivity have been conducted exclusively on men (Blain et al, 2012;Forouzan & Van Gijseghem, 2005;Parsons, Grov, & Golub, 2012). For example, in a large sample of men who have sex with men, Parsons et al (2012) observed that men showing sexual compulsivity were twice as likely as other men to have experienced CSA.…”

“…In a study of 272 women survivors of CSA, Lemieux and Byers (2008) found that women who have experienced sexual penetration or attempted sexual penetration were more likely to have both purposely abstained from sexual activity and more frequently engaged in casual or unprotected sex. Likewise, while studying a sample consisting of 65 male CSA survivors, Forouzan and Van Gijseghem (2005) reported sexual fears as well as compulsive masturbation. Finally, McCallum, Peterson, and Mueller (2012) showed that CSA was associated with sexual avoidance in men recruited in a sexually transmitted disease clinic but not in an online survey.…”

“…In addition, direct gender comparisons are rare because many studies examining relational and sexual outcomes of CSA in adult survivors have sampled only women (e.g., Lemieux & Byers, 2008;Liang et al, 2006), small samples of men (e.g., Blain et al, 2012;Forouzan & Van Gijseghem, 2005) or have included both but in ways that precluded gender comparisons (e.g., Berthelot et al, 2014).…”

Male Child Sexual Abuse: A Phenomenology of Betrayal

“…Research on the impact of sexual victimization on males, specifically, is in early stages and, as such, must be interpreted with caution. Limitations among these studies include: a tendency to measure only one type of victim outcome, insufficient attention to how family history and personal characteristics mediate outcomes, a dearth of prospective longitudinal studies, and an over-reliance on convenience samples and retrospective accounts (Forouzan and Van Gijseghem 2005;Fromuth and Burkhart 1987).…”