Mental health challenges facing male survivors of child sexual abuse: Implications for mental health nurses
Date
2022
Journal Title
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Publisher
International Journal of Mental Health Nursing
Abstract
Child sexual abuse (CSA) is an issue of epidemic proportions in the United
Kingdom (UK) and an international public health problem. Evidence suggests that in the UK one
in 20 children have been sexually abused, with one in three not telling anyone about it at the time
of the abuse. Conservative estimates suggest that around one in six men have experienced sexual
abuse before the age of 18. CSA has been correlated with the development of numerous mental
health problems, abused men often displaying externalizing behaviours, including substance
misuse, ‘risky’ sexual behaviours, anti-social behaviour, and offending. This article reports on one
aspect of a research study focusing specifically on male survivors of CSA and its effect on their
mental health. Using narrative research, face-to-face interviews were used to collect the stories of
four men who participated in the research. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed
verbatim. Analysis used a two-phase approach; initially, each narrative was analysed as a whole,
with an across transcripts analysis then being carried out identifying shared themes emerging
from the individual stories. Whilst findings from the second phase of the analysis identify four
themes, it is the theme of ‘Blocking the Memories’ that is the focus for this article. Making a
valuable contribution to existent knowledge regarding the experiences of men who were sexually
abused as children, this article will help to inform mental health practitioners who are likely to
deliver care to male survivors of CSA.
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Article
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Keywords
child sexual abuse, International Resources, United Kingdom, survivors, therapy, male victims
Citation
Viliardos, L., Murphy, N., & McAndrew, S. (2022). Mental health challenges facing male survivors of child sexual abuse: Implications for mental health nurses. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing.