Bibliometric Analysis of Risk Factors and the Impact of Sexual Violence on Men’s Mental Health

Abstract

Sexual violence against boys and adolescent males is a real problem in society but is still rarely reported specifically. The purpose of this article is to examine the disclosure, risk factors, and impacts of sexual violence on men’s mental health. This scientific literature review was conducted by searching the Google Scholar database using the keywords “sexual violence” and the title word “men” via the search feature. From this search, 500–800 scientific articles were identified that discuss sexual violence against males (generally first, then males) across various research focuses indexed in Google Scholar during the period 2015–2024. The methodological approach used in this scientific literature search was a descriptive quantitative bibliometric analysis. The results of this study highlight findings regarding the risk factors and impacts of sexual violence experienced by men of various ages. The risk factors for sexual violence against boys include a lack of family attention, poor interpersonal relationships, and, more critically, social stigma and survivors’ difficulties in disclosing their issues. Furthermore, the impacts of sexual violence experienced by male child survivors include the potential for mental health disorders and personality disorders, such as low self-esteem and depression, as well as social relationship issues like limited interpersonal relationships, and reproductive health issues such as premature ejaculation and sexual dysfunction later in life. These findings will inform the development of appropriate intervention programs for male child victims of sexual violence. A key conclusion is that research on sexual violence against men must be expanded further, so that society can recognize that not only women but also men can be victims of sexual violence.