Neurophysiological impact of childhood sexual abuse in men: A diffusion tensor imaging study

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) can cause lasting neurodevelopmental changes, posing significant challenges for survivors. Its specific impact on men remains heavily stigmatized and under-researched. This study examined neurophysiological correlates of CSA in men using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).

A community-based sample of men with CSA histories (n = 15) and controls (n = 13) were recruited from urban centers across Canada. All participants underwent DTI, which measures white matter integrity through fractional anisotropy (FA) values. Group comparisons were conducted using whole-brain voxel-wise and post-hoc region-of-interest (ROI) analyses with Bonferroni correction. Effect sizes (Cohen's d) and power were reported.

Compared to controls, the CSA group showed significantly lower FA values in the right posterior cingulum (d = 1.28, p = 0.002), superior frontal gyrus (d = 1.13, p = 0.006), anterior thalamic radiation (d = 1.19, p = 0.004), and superior longitudinal fasciculus (d = 1.90, p < 0.001). These differences remained significant after Bonferroni adjustment. Lower FA values were also observed in the left anterior cingulum and right forceps minor, though these did not meet adjusted significance thresholds.

This study provides empirical evidence of the long-lasting neurophysiological impact of CSA in men. The observed white matter differences may underlie the behavioral, emotional, and cognitive difficulties often experienced by this population. These results are discussed in the context of destigmatizing male CSA and helping clinicians better understand the neurophysiological factors affecting their patients.