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Wyles P, O'Leary P, Tsantefski M, Young A. Male Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse: A Review. TRAUMA, VIOLENCE & ABUSE 2024:15248380241277272. [PMID: 39302820 DOI: 10.1177/15248380241277272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/22/2024]
Abstract
Male child sexual abuse is over-represented in institutional settings. This realization has increasingly come into public focus in recent decades initially through lived experience, often with male survivors' stories told in the media and subsequently through court cases and government inquiries. Beginning at the turn of the century with the Irish Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (1999-2009), numerous national and state inquiries into institutional child abuse followed around the world. This scoping review asks the question: What is known from the research about the institutional child sexual abuse of males? Conducted in 2023 five databases were used (APA PsycINFO, CINAL, Medline, Scopus, Web of Science) producing 973 studies for screening. Applying the Arksey and O'Malley framework resulted in 29 studies meeting the inclusion criteria, which were analyzed. Of the 29 studies, 27 could be categorized into 3 broad areas of focus: survivor experience, impact, and disclosure. Two further studies considered: turning points and meaning making. The findings are discussed under the following headings: disclosure, impacts (emotional, mental health, alcohol, and other impacts), and what is helpful to victim/survivors. Implications for practice, policy, and research are examined along with limitations of the current research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Wyles
- Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | | | | | - Amy Young
- Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
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Hall K, Stafford J, Cho B. Women Receive More Positive Reactions to Childhood Sexual Abuse Disclosure and Negative Reactions are Associated With Mental Health Symptoms in Adulthood for Men and Women. JOURNAL OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE 2023:8862605231159630. [PMID: 36915216 DOI: 10.1177/08862605231159630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Although disclosure of sexual abuse has become more socially acceptable for both men and women in recent years, there is much yet to be understood about differences in the disclosure process and associated pathology between men and women. The current study aimed to (a) investigate differences in aspects of the childhood sexual abuse (CSA) disclosure process between adult men and women and (b) explore how timing of disclosure, perceived parental style, and negative social reactions to disclosure relate to various mental health symptoms. Using a cross-sectional, quasi-experimental design, adult men and women in the United States recruited through Amazon's Mechanical Turk (N = 299) completed self-report surveys. Women reported disclosing to a significantly greater number of people than men, and were more likely to disclose to parents, while men were more likely to tell friends. Results revealed that women reported receiving significantly more positive responses and emotionally supportive responses to their CSA disclosures than men. Negative reactions to disclosure were positively associated with internalizing symptoms and externalizing symptoms, while both negative reactions to disclosure and perceived parental dysfunction were positively associated with substance use symptoms. Results signify a need for resources to aid individuals in supporting survivors of CSA, as reactions have the potential to impact recovery trajectory and for clinicians to consider how disclosure experiences impact survivor cognitions and symptom exacerbation.
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Boyd DT, Abu-Ba’are GR, LoVette A, Whitfield DL, Turpin RE, Ramos SR, Quinn CR, Hickson DA. Assessing the Influence of Child Sexual Behavior on Depression among Black SMM in the Southeastern United States. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:13930. [PMID: 36360808 PMCID: PMC9658341 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192113930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Limited studies have examined the associations between child sexual abuse (CSA) and depression among Black sexual minority men (SMM) in the Southeastern United States (US). As, such, the current study examined the critical gap in understanding the impact of CSA on Black SMM's mental health. Specifically, we tested the associations between contextual CSA factors and depression among a large population-based sample of Black SMM living in two cities in the Southern US. Data were obtained from the MARI Study, a sample of Black SMM ages 18-66 years, recruited from the Jackson, MS and Atlanta, GA metropolitan areas (n = 507). Depression was assessed using the 9-item CES-D scale. We conducted multivariable regression analyses to examine the association between depression with history of CSA and other child sexual-related variables (i.e., age of perpetrator and age of sexual abuse), controlling for key confounders. Our results indicated that CSA (β = 0.14, p < 0.001) was positively associated with depression. Our results also indicated that Black SMM who reported being sexually abused at the ages of 6 to 10 (β = 0.30, p < 0.01) and 16 to 18 (β = 0.25, p < 0.05) were positively associated with depression. These findings suggest that there is a need to provide culturally and safe mental health services in the Southeastern US for CSA survivors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donte Travon Boyd
- College of Social Work, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Us Helping Us, People into Living, Inc., Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Gamji Rabiu Abu-Ba’are
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
- School of Nursing, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Ashleigh LoVette
- Us Helping Us, People into Living, Inc., Washington, DC 20010, USA
- College of Public Health, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | | | - Rodman E. Turpin
- Department of Global & Community Health, College of Health and Human Services, George Mason University, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - S. Raquel Ramos
- Us Helping Us, People into Living, Inc., Washington, DC 20010, USA
- School of Nursing, Yale University, West Haven, CT 06477, USA
| | - Camille R. Quinn
- Center for Equitable Family and Community Well-Being, School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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Rice SM, Easton SD, Seidler ZE, Oliffe JL. Sexual abuse and mental ill health in boys and men: what we do and don't know. BJPsych Open 2022; 8:e110. [PMID: 35678473 PMCID: PMC9230611 DOI: 10.1192/bjo.2022.508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The spectrum of adverse mental health trajectories caused by sexual abuse, broadly defined as exposure to rape and unwanted physical sexual contact, is well-known. Few studies have systematically appraised the epidemiology and impact of sexual abuse among boys and men. New meta-analytic insights (k = 44; n = 45 172) reported by Zarchev and colleagues challenge assumptions that men experiencing mental ill health rarely report sexual abuse exposure. Adult-onset sexual abuse rates of 1-7% are observed in the general population, but for men experiencing mental ill health, adult lifetime prevalence was 14.1% (95% CI 7.3-22.4%), with past-year exposure 5.3% (95% CI 1.6-12.8%). We note that these rates are certainly underestimates, as childhood sexual abuse exposures were excluded. Boys and men with a sexual abuse history experience substantial disclosure and treatment barriers. We draw attention to population health gains that could be achieved via implementation of gender-sensitive assessment and intervention approaches for this at-risk population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon M Rice
- Orygen, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; and Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Scott D Easton
- School of Social Work, Boston College, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Zac E Seidler
- Orygen, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; and Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - John L Oliffe
- School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; and Department of Nursing, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Elliott SA, Goodman KL, Bardwell ES, Mullin TM. Reactions to the disclosure of intrafamilial childhood sexual abuse: Findings from the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2022; 127:105567. [PMID: 35278820 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION For child sexual abuse (CSA) victims, disclosure can be helpful or harmful depending on how recipients respond. Despite a growing body of literature examining reactions to disclosure, little is known about the experiences of current CSA victims, particularly those abused by family. OBJECTIVE We aimed to describe and explore the initial disclosure experiences of intrafamilial CSA victims, and whether reactions varied based on the type of disclosure recipient. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING This study utilized anonymous, archival data from the US-based National Sexual Assault Online Hotline (NSAOH), and focused on a sample of 224 intrafamilial CSA victims who had previously disclosed to one type of recipient. METHODS NSAOH staff summarized children's disclosure experiences via an open-ended survey field. Data were independently coded using the Social Reactions Questionnaire. RESULTS Nearly three-fourths (73%) of children described receiving a negative reaction to disclosure. Negative reactions included distracting or dismissing the victim (33%), not believing the victim (29%), or retaliating or responding violently following disclosure (10%). Children most frequently disclosed abuse to non-offending family (66%), friends (17%), and formal support providers (12%). Relative to friends and intimate partners, victims were more likely to discuss negative reactions from family (49% v 87%, respectively, Cramer's V = 0.33, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Disclosing to non-offending family may be unproductive and potentially harmful for some children. This study has implications for disclosure-related planning protocols on anonymous hotlines. Findings underscore the importance of educating the public, and parents in particular, about how to respond to CSA disclosures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon A Elliott
- Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), Research and Evaluation, 1220 L St NW, Washington, DC 20005, United States of America.
| | - Kimberly L Goodman
- Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), Research and Evaluation, 1220 L St NW, Washington, DC 20005, United States of America.
| | - Emma S Bardwell
- Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), Research and Evaluation, 1220 L St NW, Washington, DC 20005, United States of America.
| | - Tara M Mullin
- Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), Research and Evaluation, 1220 L St NW, Washington, DC 20005, United States of America.
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Rice SM, Kealy D, Seidler ZE, Walton CC, Oliffe JL, Ogrodniczuk JS. Male-type depression symptoms in young men with a history of childhood sexual abuse and current hazardous alcohol use. Psychiatry Res 2021; 304:114110. [PMID: 34333321 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2021.114110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The prevalence of male-type or externalising depression symptoms (e.g., anger, risk-taking, emotion suppression) were examined with cross-sectional online convenience sample of 1,277 help-seeking young men (M=23.64, SD=3.61 years). Almost a quarter (21.9%) of the sample reported childhood sexual abuse (CSA) exposure, and most (68.8%) endorsed past 2-week suicide ideation. All male-type depression symptoms were frequently (>30%) endorsed across the sample, and were positively correlated with past 2-week suicide ideation. An adjusted CSA exposure × alcohol risk interaction (p=.013) indicated elevated male-type depression scores for those with a CSA history and hazardous alcohol use. Results are interpreted in line with young men's adherence to masculine norms, which may be particularly complex for young men reporting a CSA exposure history. Findings support the need for enhanced screening efforts, especially among young men with a history of CSA and hazardous alcohol use, with a need to also improve gender-sensitive service offerings for young men with a CSA exposure history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon M Rice
- Orygen, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia; Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - David Kealy
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Zac E Seidler
- Orygen, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia; Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Courtney C Walton
- Orygen, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia; Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - John L Oliffe
- School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Department of Nursing, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - John S Ogrodniczuk
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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