bmj.com -- Press Releases

Press Releases Saturday 27 March 1999
No 7187 Volume 318

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(1) PREVALENCE OF SEXUAL ABUSE IN MEN

(Lifetime prevalence, characteristics and associated problems of
non-consensual sex in men: cross sectional survey)
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/318/7187/846

Medical Professionals need to be aware of the adverse psychological
effects on men who have been the victim of a non-consensual sexual
experience, say researchers from Royal Free and University College
and St George's Hospital Medical Schools in London in this week's
BMJ. In their study of nearly 2,500 men (2474) in England, Professor
Michael King and colleagues found that around three per cent of men
reported non-consensual sexual experiences as adults. These men
suffered a greater prevalence of psychological problems than the
general population, including alcohol misuse and self-harm.

These findings are the first epidemiological data to be recorded in
Europe on the prevalence of non-consensual sexual experiences in
men and the authors say that their figures are likely to be modest in
light of the fact that many victims do not wish to discuss what has
happened to them. Whilst interviewing the men, the researchers also
found that over one in twenty (5.4 per cent) had been subjected to
non-consensual sexual experiences as children and that this in turn
was a significant predictor of a similar experience in adulthood. King
et al comment that previous research has concentrated on the
possibility of sexually abused boys becoming perpetrators in adulthood
and that the possibility of early abuse leading to further victimisation as
adults is a concept that has been neglected.

Contact:

Professor Michael King,
Head of Department,
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences,
Royal Free and University
College Medical School, London
Email: mike{at}rfhsm.ac.uk

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