Male survivors' perspectives of incest/sexual abuse.
OBJECTIVE
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.


RESULTS
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.
Ray
S L
SL
London Psychiatric Hospital, London, Ontario, Canada. slray@julian.uwo.ca
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007179:Incest; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*