( New studies by Canadian researchers sho...)Sexually Abused Males Found Struggling In heir relations with Healthcare Providers,Health

New studies by Canadian researchers show that the male survivors of childhood sexual abuse face distinctive challenges that are not recognized and understood// many health care practitioners as well as they should. The researchers found that though both male and female childhood sexual survivors usually exhibit kinds of similar anxieties and fears about their encounters with health care professionals, there are gender based differences concerning observation of victim hood, guilt, shame, homophobia and vulnerability.

"We found that it's doubly-difficult for males to come forward after they've been sexually abused, because many men have difficulty identifying and expressing their feelings. There is also a common perception that males should be strong and shouldn't ever admit vulnerability or ask for help," said Gerri Lasiuk, a PhD student in the U of A Faculty of Nursing.

"Given the pervasive stereotype of men as strong, in control, and always able to defend themselves, even health professionals have a hard time recognizing men as victims, especially if their abuser was a woman," said Lasiuk, who co-authored a paper on this topic in the June 2006 edition of the journal Issues in Mental Health Nursing.

"Many male survivors felt that health care providers are more skeptical toward male claims of abuse than they are of similar female claims. When the abuser was a woman, there was an attitude of, 'So what? Isn't that every boy's fantasy?" Lasiuk said.

Lasiuk added that abuse by a male on a boy often causes confusion around sexual identity as the boy grows up, and many male survivors do not disclose their abuse for fear that they will be considered homosexual.

Another issue for men is the myth that all survivors are predisposed to become abusers themselves.

"The research is clear that only a small percentage of survivors go on to be abusers," Lasiuk said. "This erroneous belief causes tremendous hard
'"/>




Page: 1 2
Related medicine news :

1. Incidence Of Sexually Transmitted Diseases Among Gay Men On The Rise
2. Sexually Abused Girls Develop Eating Disorders
3. Historic Increase In Incidence Of Sexually Transmitted Diseases In Scotland
4. Youth Becoming Sexually Active At A Younger Age
5. Youngsters Not Aware Of Sexually Transmitted Diseases
6. Rates of Sexually Transmitted Diseases Soar In North UK
7. Girl Students Sexually Harassed by Security Forces in Nepal
8. Sexually Transmitted Infections Boom In UK
9. Boom In Sexually Transmitted Infections In Senior Scottish Citizens
10. Sexually transmitted diseases among teens on the rise
11. Sexually Transmitted Diseases Soaring Due To Unsafe Sex