Related Experiment Videos
Effects of male rape on psychological functioning
Jayne Walker1, John Archer, Michelle Davies
1Department of Psychology, University of Central Lancashire, UK.
The British Journal of Clinical Psychology
|October 22, 2005
Summary
Male rape survivors experience significantly poorer psychological functioning, including lower self-worth and self-esteem. Lack of treatment after the assault is linked to suicide attempts in these survivors.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Trauma Studies
- Men's Health
Background:
- Limited research exists on the psychological effects of male rape compared to extensive literature on female survivors.
- This study addresses the gap by investigating the psychological functioning of male rape survivors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the psychological functioning of British male rape survivors.
- To compare their functioning levels with a matched control group.
Main Methods:
- 40 British male rape survivors and a control group completed questionnaires.
- Measures included psychological functioning, world assumptions, self-esteem, and PTSD symptoms (intrusion and avoidance).
Main Results:
- Male rape survivors exhibited poorer psychological functioning, lower self-worth, and lower self-esteem than controls.
- Most survivors reported high levels of intrusive thoughts and avoidance related to the assault.
- Logistic regression indicated that lack of treatment predicted suicide attempts.
Conclusions:
- Findings highlight significant psychological distress in male rape survivors.
- The results underscore the critical need for targeted treatment interventions for male rape survivors.
- Lack of post-assault treatment is a significant risk factor for suicide attempts.