Adult Males Sexually Abused as Children: Characteristics and Implications for Treatment

While the sexual abuse of males is now well documented, the literature lacks sufficient data on the long-term effects for adult males sexually victimized during childhood and is even less informative regarding treatment of this population. This study describes a sample of 25 adult males who were sexually abused as children. The clients’ responses to a questionnaire, case records and clinical observations describe three primary characteristics common among subjects: sexual compulsiveness, masculine identity confusion, and relationship dysfunction. Male socialization appears to be a key variable in explaining the difficulty men have in acknowledging the abuse as well as an underlying dynamic that must be considered in the overall treatment approach.