Recovery Capital Among Male Adult Sexual Assault Survivors: Perspectives of Survivors and Therapists

Research on male sexual victimization tends to focus more on child sexual abuse than adult sexual assault (ASA) and more on the implication of the assault than on the recovery process. The present study aimed to explore the recovery process of men who were sexually victimized in adulthood (18+) as shaped by gender and age through the recovery capital model. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the recovery process of male ASA survivors, data were collected from 40 in-depth interviews with 19 male ASA survivors and 21 sexual trauma therapists. The findings suggest that the identities of male ASA survivors as masculine and mature alongside the stigma associated with these identities hinder their recovery. However, a practical approach to rehabilitating these identities, together with support from close friends and family, can facilitate and promote recovery. We thus conclude that recovery for male ASA survivors is rooted in their masculine and adult identities.