Psychological Distress and Help-Seeking Among Emerging Adult Male Survivors of Sexual Assault: Informing Counseling Practice
Open AccessSexual violence is a significant global problem that affects millions of children, adolescents, and adults annually (Basile et al., 2013; Basile et al., 2021; Black et al., 2011; Du Mont et al., 2013; Kehayes et al., 2018; Smith, 2018). Sexual violence prevalence rates for men are often referenced as “impossible to identify, understudied, underreported, and/or underacknowledged” (Borumandnia et al., 2020; Dills, 2016; Garcia, 2013). Research suggests a heightened risk of sexual violence for individuals ages 16-25 when compared to other age groups (Breslau, 2009; Coxell et al., 1999; French et al., 2015; Oswalt et al., 2018). This study utilized secondary data from the NISVS (2012) to examine the relationships between the severity of male sexual victimization, psychological distress, and the potential moderation of help-seeking at the relational, community, or society levels of the social ecological model among emerging adult males (ages 18-29). A significant lack of collinearity was identified in the NISVS Sexual Violence scale among emerging adult males that prohibited further analyses. Thus, items from the NISVS Sexual Violence scale were standardized, and logistic regression analyses were conducted at the relational, community, and societal levels of the social ecological model. Statistically significant predictors of help-seeking among emerging adult males were identified at the relational, community, and societal levels of the social ecological model. Implications for clinical practice and higher education are discussed along with recommendations for future research.
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