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Adult male survivors of incest and childhood abuse: An investigation of the effects
Abstract
The purpose of this series of case studies was to investigate the effects of incest and childhood abuse on adult male survivors. Qualitative data were collected through in-depth interviews, direct observations, art work, and questionnaires. Patterns of verification included: (1) triangulation of data; (2) member checking; (3) repeated observations of similar phenomena and settings; and (4) peer examination. The data were obtained from seven adult male survivors of incest and childhood abuse, ranging in age from 25 to 60 years, in the Lincoln, Nebraska area. Subjects were each seen for 8 to 16 hours within a three-month period. The conclusions drawn from this study, based on in-depth interviews, direct observations, art work, and questionnaires, were: (1) Several effects perceived to be related to sexual functioning were reported: sexual preoccupations, confusion about sexual identity, compulsive sexual behaviors, difficulties with sexual performance, and aversion to sexual intimacy. (2) Effects related to social functioning included intense discomfort in social situations, inability to interact, mistrust of other people, employment problems, and poly-substance abuse. (3) Effects in the area of psychological/emotional functioning included emotional reactions of extreme anxiety, extreme guilt and shame, intense anger, sleep problems, bitterness, self-destructive behaviors, and a sense of hopelessness. (4) With regard to a sense of self, lowered self-esteem, feelings of being different, and a sense of powerlessness were the most prominent. (5) The effects of interpersonal relations included extremely poor relationship skills, especially with the gender by which subjects in this study were abused. The participants reported strong feelings of betrayal by the very ones they trusted and loved and difficulty in developing and maintaining strong, lasting relationships. According to the findings of this study, anxiety and fear continued to imprison the joy and freedom of the male survivors. The findings of this investigation concerning the effects of incest and childhood abuse on adult male survivors were consistent with the findings of others studies in the professional literature.
Subject Area
Social work|Families & family life|Personal relationships|Sociology
Recommended Citation
Vargas, Henrietta Ann, "Adult male survivors of incest and childhood abuse: An investigation of the effects" (1995). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI9611072.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI9611072