Psychological Impact of Sexual Assault on Males: An Open Secret in Our Society

Abstract

Objective: To determine the psychological impact of sexual assaults among males during their childhood. Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Combined Military Hospital Okara from 2 August 2022 to 20 March 2023. Materials and Methods: We consecutively sampled 204 subjects who were given proforma to record demographic data including age, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, being victim of sexual assault, relationship to the assailant, numbers of sexual assault, and mode of sexual assault. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) check list and Trauma symptom check (TSC) list was applied on participants reporting sexual assault and SPSS 23 used for data analysis. Results: Out of 204 study participants 33 (16.1%) males experienced sexual assault while 27 (81.8%) victims experienced PTSD with trauma symptoms of sleep disturbance in 18 (54.5%), sexual dysfunction experienced by 6 (18.1%), anxiety felt by 13 (39.3%), depression presented in 5 (15.1%), while 2 (6.0%) individuals experienced dissociation. Victims of sexual assault, assailant and number of sexual assaults were highly correlated with mode of sexual assault, trauma symptoms (except dissociation), and PTSD (p < 0.001) Conclusion: Sexual assault on males during their childhood is strongly associated with significant psychological distress.

Keywords

• male
• post-traumatic stress disorder
• sexual
• trauma.