Perceived helpfulness and engagement in mental health treatment: A study of male survivors of sexual abuse.

Abstract

At least 1 in 4 men are sexually abused or assaulted across their lifetime. Although many have significant negative mental health (MH) difficulties, relatively few seek formal MH treatment. This study sought to understand current engagement in and perceived helpfulness of MH treatment in male survivors. Eighty-eight men completed an online survey via a nonprofit organization's website dedicated to providing support to male survivors. Men who reported that they received MH treatment in the past 90 days endorsed significantly higher adverse childhood experiences, as well as depressive and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, compared with those who had not. Male survivors identified peer support, individual therapy and validation, and specific interventions as most helpful aspects of treatment. The least helpful aspects were therapists' lack of knowledgeable about male sexual abuse, unhelpful or shaming responses, and avoidance of traumatic material, as well as financial and insurance constraints. Implications for fostering a more supportive, destigmatizing therapeutic environment for male survivors are discussed. Public Significance StatementHigher depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and adverse childhood experiences were associated with recent mental health (MH) treatment for male survivors of sexual assault. Survivors noted that the most helpful aspect of MH treatment was peer-based support. Screening men for traumatic exposure, including sexual violence, and depression may help to identify men in need of support. The availability of peer-based groups may help male survivors engage in formal MH treatment.

Male Sexual Abuse

“…Research that focused on mental health treatments for male survivors of MSA found that males are 1.5 times less likely to report rape to the police than females (Ellis et al, 2020). If a male does disclose the abuse, the disclosure usually occurs approximately 20-25 years after the occurrence.…”

A Qualitative Investigation of Service Providers’ Experiences Supporting Raped and Sexually Abused Men

“…Unhelpfully, survivors' fears around disclosing are often confirmed by encounters with rape myth related attitudes within third sector organisations 2 and the criminal justice system (CJS; Ellis et al, 2020;Jamel et al, 2008;Widanaralalage et al, 2022). Indeed, negative social reactions to sexual assault disclosures have been linked to the development and exacerbation of PTSD symptoms in sexual assault survivors (Ullman & Peter-Hagene, 2014).…”