Adult male survivors of childhood sexual abuse: Prevalence, sexual abuse characteristics, and long-term effects

Despite the plethora of research literature on female victims of childhood sexual abuse, it is only recently that male victims have received some attention. The present paper critically reviews the literature on men who had been sexually abused in childhood. It examines the issues of prevalence, nature of the abuse, and the long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse. Where provided, comparisons between men and women who had been sexually abused as children are included. This review identifies several gaps in the literature that warrant measures to be taken in order to enhance our understanding of male sexual abuse. The tentative conclusion at this juncture is that a significant number of men has been sexually abused in childhood, and that very little empirically-sound research has been undertaken to better the present situation of such individuals.