University of Otago, New Zealand.
Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse Trust, Christchurch, New Zealand.
J Interpers Violence. 2020 May;35(9-10):2033-2054. doi: 10.1177/0886260517701453. Epub 2017 Apr 3.
Childhood sexual abuse of males is not uncommon with estimated prevalence rates across countries and different studies indicating that 8% of boys experience sexual abuse before age 18. A number of adverse outcomes are recognized in terms of mental health, behavioral, and relational difficulties. However, research also indicates that there is potential for healing. The present study explores the barriers, benefits, and processes involved in engagement in formal therapy for adult survivors of CSA from the male survivor's point of view. Nine men spoke of their treatment experiences in response to semistructured interviews. Participants were all members of a group for male survivors of sexual abuse. Seven participants reported benefiting from treatment. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) of the interviews identified three superordinate themes: "motivation to engage in treatment," "developing a connection with treatment providers," and "changing thinking about the abuse." These themes reveal a number of obstacles that are encountered in seeking treatment including stigma, process barriers, and engagement of a skilled and empathic therapist. For the men who were able to take part in therapy despite these barriers, improved quality of life were noted through the two primary mechanisms of relationship and changed thinking. Key changes in thinking included developing an awareness that they were not responsible for the abuse, understanding the effects of abuse, and developing an identity distinct from the experience of abuse. These changes in thinking occurred within the context of a robust therapeutic relationship.
男性儿童性虐待并不罕见，据各国和不同研究估计，有 8%的男孩在 18 岁之前遭受过性虐待。大量研究表明，性虐待会对心理健康、行为和人际关系方面造成负面影响。然而，研究也表明，这种伤害是有可能被治愈的。本研究从男性幸存者的角度探讨了成年 CSA 幸存者参与正式治疗的障碍、益处和过程。9 名男性在半结构化访谈中讲述了他们的治疗经历。参与者均为性虐待男性幸存者小组的成员。7 名参与者表示从治疗中受益。对访谈的解释现象学分析（IPA）确定了三个上位主题：“参与治疗的动机”、“与治疗提供者建立联系”和“改变对虐待的看法”。这些主题揭示了在寻求治疗过程中遇到的许多障碍，包括耻辱感、治疗过程中的障碍以及治疗师的专业性和同理心。对于那些尽管面临这些障碍仍能够接受治疗的男性来说，通过人际关系和改变思维这两个主要机制，他们的生活质量得到了显著改善。思维的关键变化包括意识到自己对虐待不负有责任，了解虐待的影响，并形成与虐待经历不同的身份认同。这些思维的变化是在强有力的治疗关系的背景下发生的。
