全球智库信息集成服务系统

Review of Published Research

• Researchers recently estimated that 1.7 percent of civilian men have experienced an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime. Research estimates suggest that 2.2 percent of U.S. active-duty men have experienced a sexual assault in their lifetime, and 1.8 percent have experienced a sexual assault since joining the military.
• Many male sexual assault victims experience symptoms of depression, anxiety, nightmares, flashbacks, self-blame, low self-esteem, or problems with anger control following the assault.
• Estimates suggest that only 15 percent of military male sexual assault victims file a report, which appears to be consistent with levels of civilian reporting.

Interviews with Military Service Providers and Civilian Experts

• Interviewees emphasized the mental health care needs of sexual assault victims. Several service providers believed that additional male-specific mental health services are needed in the military system.
• Most service providers believed that individuals in their profession were either somewhat informed or well informed about sexual assault against men in the military. However, few chaplains believed that those in the chaplaincy were prepared to assist male victims.
• Interviewees discussed multiple barriers to reporting among male sexual assault victims. For example, some male victims do not classify what happened to them as a "sexual assault." Other barriers included shame and embarrassment, a belief that nothing would be done, concerns regarding privacy, and concerns regarding harm to a military unit.
• Some service providers indicated that servicemembers maintain beliefs in false rape myths regarding male sexual assault, even after receiving sexual assault prevention training.

In the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016, Congress included a requirement to improve prevention of and response to sexual assaults in which the victim is a male member of the U.S. armed forces. To support this effort, RAND researchers reviewed previous research on male sexual assault and specifically considered research on male sexual assault in the U.S. military. The researchers also conducted interviews with individuals who provide support services to U.S. military personnel and with civilian experts who study male sexual assault or provide services to male victims. This report details the study's findings.

Although research considering the needs of and services for male sexual assault victims is more limited than research addressing female victims of sexual assault, the available research provides initial information on the prevalence, characteristics, consequences, and public perceptions of male sexual assault. This literature — along with the results of interviews that addressed needs of male sexual assault victims, reporting and help-seeking among victims, and knowledge and perceptions about such assaults — suggests potential avenues for the U.S. Department of Defense to pursue to better address the needs of male sexual assault victims in the U.S. military. These avenues include improvements to reporting procedures, counseling services, outreach, and education and training of service providers and servicemembers.

• Chapter One

  Introduction

• Chapter Two

  Review of Previous Research on Male Sexual Assault Characteristics

• Chapter Three

  Identifying and Addressing the Needs of Male Sexual Assault Victims

• Chapter Four

  Reporting and Help-Seeking Among Male Sexual Assault Victims

• Chapter Five

  Improving Knowledge and Correcting Misperceptions About Male Sexual Assault

• Chapter Six

  Recommendations