Sexual Assault Recovery and Male Significant Others

Abstract

A questionnaire addressing rape crisis services for male significant others (MSOs) of rape victims (i.e., husbands, fathers, brothers, close male friends) was mailed to the directors of all 700 rape-prevention and -treatment programs in the United States. Completed questionnaires were received from 411 programs, including 162 that were identified specifically as full-service rape crisis centers. Although 97% of the center directors responded that services for MSOs facilitate victim recovery, few centers offered services to males other than referral or short-term crisis counseling. Furthermore, 85% of the directors acknowledged that males were reluctant to use these services. The authors offer strategies for involving men in the recovery process with the assistance of rape crisis centers, including groups for secondary victims and staffing and referral considerations.