Men and Women Suffering from PTSD after Sexual Assault

Abstract

When it comes to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and sexual assault, both men and women suffer and can become victims. Post-traumatic stress disorder is a condition of persistent mental and emotional stress occurring as a result of injury or severe psychological shock, typically involving disturbance of sleep and constant vivid recall of the experience, with dulled responses to others and to the outside world. The effects and characteristics of this disorder vary mentally, emotionally, and physically between men and women especially when it comes to sexual assault. Findings show that women tend to have a higher risk of developing PTSD and other factors that come along after sexual assault in comparison to men for several reasons. Trauma, risk factors, experiences, coping skills, and protective factors are big contributions to this. Although women may have a higher risk of developing this mental health disorder, men also suffer from this disorder. Previous studies suggest men develop PTSD as a result of sexual trauma at a lower rate than women and are more likely to develop the disorder as a result of combat. Based on this review there may be some gender bias that men who suffer from PTSD after assault aren’t taken as seriously as women based on gender alone and possibly the known stereotype of PTSD with men. Further research should include more findings of the underlying issues of men who deal with PTSD after traumatic sexual assault.