Male sexual abuse victims do not disclose as frequently as female victims. Approximately one out of three boys tells about the abuse compared to two out of five girls (Calder, 2001). This may be related to the stigma attached to the abuse, the male child's perception of weakness, or the increased perception of responsibility. In comparison to female victims, male victims are more often thought to have encouraged the abuse. This may be due to society's views regarding males as initiator in sexual encounters.
Male and female sexual abuse victims experience many of the same long-term consequences. If certain factors are present, such as abuse beginning at an early age and occuring over a long period of time, increased severity of consequences is predicted. However, some effects of the abuse are different in males. Male victims experience symptoms of long term consequences in the following areas.
Emotional effects:
Relationship effects:
- Difficulty in establishing and maintaining relationships with intimate partners
- Inablity to talk about emotions
- Unfaithfulness to primary partner (wife or signifiant other) and multiple sexual partners
- Domestic violence in adult relationships
- Difficulty in developing friendships with adult males
Sexuality effects:
- Avoiding sex
- Lack of sexual desire
- Preoccupation with sex
- Dissatisfaction with sexual partners and activities
- Lack of sexual confidence
- Addiction to pornography
- Compulsive masturbation
- Multiple sexual partners
- Prostitution: Being a prostitute; using a prostitute
- Sexual dysfunction such as impotence, erectile, or ejaculatory problems
- Confusion regarding sexual identity and sexual preference
Addictions:
- Alcohol and other drugs
- Workaholism
- Sexual addiction
- Relationship addiction
- Eating disorders
- Impulsive behaviors, such as gambling and overspending
Becoming perpetrators:
- Sexually abusing children or sexually assaulting adults