@article{ref1,
title="Sexual abuse and mental ill health in boys and men: what we do and don't know",
journal="BJPsych open",
year="2022",
author="Rice, Simon M. and Easton, Scott D. and Seidler, Zac E. and Oliffe, John L.",
volume="8",
number="4",
pages="e110-e110",
abstract="The spectrum of adverse mental health trajectories caused by sexual abuse, broadly defined as exposure to rape and unwanted physical sexual contact, is well-known. Few studies have systematically appraised the epidemiology and impact of sexual abuse among boys and men. New meta-analytic insights (k = 44; n = 45 172) reported by Zarchev and colleagues challenge assumptions that men experiencing mental ill health rarely report sexual abuse exposure. Adult-onset sexual abuse rates of 1-7% are observed in the general population, but for men experiencing mental ill health, adult lifetime prevalence was 14.1% (95% CI 7.3-22.4%), with past-year exposure 5.3% (95% CI 1.6-12.8%). We note that these rates are certainly underestimates, as childhood sexual abuse exposures were excluded. Boys and men with a sexual abuse history experience substantial disclosure and treatment barriers. We draw attention to population health gains that could be achieved via implementation of gender-sensitive assessment and intervention approaches for this at-risk population.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2056-4724",
doi="10.1192/bjo.2022.508",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2022.508"
}