Thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Masters of Social Sciences in Psychology at University of Waikato.

This study examined how sexual abuse during childhood affected 6 men, and investigated the participants' beliefs and attitudes towards the sexual abuse of men. In-depth interviews provided data concerning men's perceptions of societal views regarding the sexual abuse of males. Other topics investigated included the long- and short-term effects of sexual abuse, disclosure issues, the significance of the sex of the abuser on the men's dealing with being abused and participant's views concerning potential relationships between being abused and becoming an abuser. Analysis of the results revealed that the participants believed that the abuse of men is generally ignored and denied by society, especially in regard to the sexual abuse of boys by women. Participants asserted that females are much more likely to be perceived as victims by the general public than males are, and that society finds it easier to comprehend the sexual assault of females than the sexual assault of males. Other findings of this research include that for some men in this study, being sexually abused creates fears about being thought of as gay or of being gay and led them to feel the need to prove their masculinity. Further, the participants in this study had heard of a connection between being sexually abused and becoming an abuser, and felt deeply concerned that some people assume that males who have been abused are likely to molest children. The men believed that they had developed a variety of short- and long-term effects of sexual abuse similar to those noted in the literature, such as interpersonal difficulties, alcohol and drug problems, eating problems, problems with their aggression, confusion over sexual orientation, and fear of and inability to initiate sexual relationships. Whether or not these problems could be a partial outcome of their sexual abuse experiences could not be ascertained from the present research. It is recommended that an increase in public awareness regarding the abuse of male children, committed by both men and women, would make it easier for males to disclose that they have been abused. Suggestions for further research are included.--AUTHOR'S ABSTRACT

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