Young Male Victims Research Articles

“It Spread Like Wildfire, as These Things Do”: Exploring Mechanisms of Harm in Young Norwegians’ Experiences of Image-Based Sexual Abuse

ABSTRACT It is widely reported that image-based sexual abuse (IBSA) victimization is linked to a wide range of detrimental outcomes, including anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. However, knowledge about what shapes victims’ experiences remains limited. To explore underlying mechanisms of harm in IBSA incidents, the present study drew on the concept of appraisal to elucidate the various meanings that victims attach to IBSA. For this purpose, we carried out a reflexive thematic analysis of 20 individual in-depth interviews with young male and female victims (ages 16–26) of IBSA. Using this approach, we developed four overarching themes that capture participants’ experiences of being (1) robbed of bodily autonomy, (2) stripped of privacy, (3) subjected to public scrutiny, and (4) trapped in a state of uncertainty. By delineating the different ways that participants appraised and experienced each of these “layers of victimization,” our findings show how the harms of IBSA may be shaped by a complex constellation of situational, personal, and cultural structures and conditions. Importantly, as some of these mechanisms are socially constructed, our findings indicate that efforts aimed at reducing negative outcomes of IBSA should address the interpersonal and cultural context of these incidents, including bystander responses to intimate image dissemination.

What guy wouldn't want it? Male victimization experiences with female‐perpetrated stranger sexual harassment

AbstractThe present research explored female‐perpetrated stranger sexual harassment of young male victims. Across two studies, male participants aged 16–23 reported that they had experienced a range of unwanted sexual attention from unknown female perpetrators, including both in‐person harassment (e.g., seductive behavior and catcalls, unwanted sexual touching) and online harassment (e.g., unsolicited sexual text messages and images, requests for nude self photos). Participants reported that in‐person sexual harassment started as early as 9–12 years of age and online harassment began between 12–14 years of age. Open‐ended descriptions of these early events revealed troubling narratives of non‐consensual sexual touching, forcibly removed clothing, groping, aggression, and being followed, with much of it committed by adult women. Participants recounted being asked, in adolescence, to send nude photos and receiving persistent sexual demands, often from older women. In addition, participants reported uncertainty with gender role expectations, believing that they were supposed to enjoy sexual attention but in reality finding it disturbing and unpleasant. Practical implications, policy recommendations, and future directions are discussed.

595 Penetrating Pelvic Trauma from a Crossbow Bolt: An Unusual Choice of Weapon

Abstract Introduction The crossbow was a popular weapon in medieval times due to their relative ease of use and accuracy but was superseded by firearms around the 16th century. Today, it is legal for adults in the UK to own a crossbow without a licence. Case Report A young adult male victim was brought to a Major Trauma Centre with a single lower left quadrant penetrating wound caused a crossbow bolt that was self-removed immediately after the injury. A 2.5cm entry wound was present with no exit wound. The patient was haemodynamically unstable on arrival and was transferred to theatre without imaging within 16 minutes of arrival. The main operative findings were multiple small bowel serosal tears, a full thickness small bowel injury with no contamination and a left external iliac artery injury with active bleeding which were all repaired primarily. The post-operative recovery course included occlusive left cephalic and antecubital vein thrombi and an extensive non-occlusive left common femoral vein thrombus treated with anticoagulant therapy but was otherwise unremarkable. He was discharged 10 days later with no lasting sequelae at 6-week follow up. Discussion This case highlights a rare but important and likely underreported modality of penetrating injury. Crossbow bolts have low kinetic energy compared to bullets but high penetrative force, thus little energy is transferred to surrounding tissues. Hence the main injuries caused by crossbow bolts are due to direct damage to structures they come into contact with. Although rare, trauma surgeons should be aware of the pattern of injury caused by crossbows.

Two Decades of Ecstasy: Shifting Demographic Trends in Decedents using MDMA.

Deaths with a toxicology finding of the party drug, 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), over the 20-year period from 2000-2019 in San Francisco are presented to identify shifting demographic trends. Of the 148 cases, 129 (87.2%) were male with mean and median ages of 30 and 28, respectively. The most common manner of death (MOD) in males was homicide (65 of 129) and accident (49 of 129). The most common MOD in females was accident (15 of 19). Regarding racial demographics, Black homicide deaths accounted for 59 of 67 (88.1%) of total homicides. The most prevalent cause of death for homicides was gunshot wounds (63 of 67, 94.0%). Homicide prevalence was high in the first decade of the study (53 of 88, 60.2%), sharply dropping off after 2011. White accidental deaths made up most of the accidental deaths (45 of 64, 70.3%). Since 2015, accidental deaths with MDMA began to rise (40 of 60, 66.7%), most with other coingestants. MDMA concentrations (median, mean ± SD) between homicide (290, 450 ± 490 ng/mL) and accidental (250, 680 ± 1120 ng/mL) deaths were similar. MDMA concentrations were elevated in central blood compared to peripheral blood from unmatched cases. MDMA was detected in a variety of decedents during the two decades, with primarily young Black male gunshot wound homicide victims in the first decade and primarily young White male accidental polydrug victims in the second decade. This study demonstrates that MDMA is no longer confined to a party setting, but can also be found in different socio-economic strata, including its association with violent homicidal deaths.

Mapping the landscape of male-on-male rape in London: an analysis of cases involving male victims reported between 2005 and 2012

ABSTRACT Male-on-male rape remains an under-researched area, and little is known about the characteristics and outcomes of this type of crime. This study examines 122 rape cases involving young adult and adult male victims reported to the London Metropolitan Police Service between 2005 and 2012. Overall, there were a number of similarities with cases involving female victims; however, male cases were more likely to involve strangers, substance use, and a victim with mental health issues, alluding to specific vulnerabilities. Moreover, younger victims, victims with poor mental health, and victims who had consumed alcohol or drugs were less likely to have their cases referred to prosecutors and more likely to be ‘no-crimed’ by police. This paper provides unique insight into the profile and trajectories of male-on-male rape cases, and preliminary recommendations for both police practice and future research are provided.

Some Die Young: A Follow-Up Study of Young Men Exposed to Violence in Sweden

ABSTRACT This register-based study from Sweden examines mortality risks among young male victims of violence. In total, 8722 men aged 18–24 years who spent at least one night in inpatient care after exposure to violence in the years 1992–2005 were compared with 78,702 age-matched men from the general population. Cox regressions showed that men exposed to violence had a >3 times higher risk of all-cause mortality, a >4 times higher risk of suicide, and about a 20 times higher risk of death from later violence. The risk of suicide remained stable during the follow-up, and the risk of all-cause mortality and death from later violence decreased. Abbreviations: NBHW: The Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen); Brå: The Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (Brottsförebyggande rådet)

Coping Strategies and Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms in Young Adult Victims of Cyberstalking: A Questionnaire Survey in an Italian Sample

Aims: In the last decade, the use of smartphones, computers and devices has progressively increased, and prolonged use of technology and the internet has generated new arenas (and tools) for victimization. The first aim of this study was to analyze the use of coping strategies in young adult self-declared victims of cyberstalking. The coping strategies were categorized as proactive behavior, avoidance tactics and passivity. To better understand these strategies, they were analyzed in light of the experience of victimization in terms of incurred misconduct. The second aim was to analyze the coping strategies and the consequences (in terms of depression and anxiety) that occurred in victims; a comparison was made between males and females. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to over 433 young adults living in Italy. The questionnaires were filled out by 398 (92%) subjects, 41% males and 59% females. Their ages ranged from 18 to 30 years (M = 23.5, SD = 2.76). Respondents took part on a voluntary basis and did not receive any compensation (or extra credit) for their participation. Results: Findings from this investigation confirmed that among victims, females were more prone than males to experience cyberstalking (respectively, 65% and 35%), with females experiencing a higher percentage of more than one form of cyberstalking behavior than males. Young adult male victims used the internet principally for online gaming, and for this activity, they experienced more cyberstalking behavior than females. In most cases, the perpetrator was a male, and the victim–cyberstalker relationship was a friendship or an acquaintance. For the coping strategies adopted, the findings indicated that the victims were more prone to use avoidance tactics than proactivity behavior and passivity strategies. Young adults involved in this investigation mainly used avoidance tactics to cope with the stressful situation, which implies that they preferred to decrease the use of the internet or stop online contact than collect evidence and try to contact and reason with the cyberstalker or increase the misuse of alcohol of psychotropic substances. Moreover, females were less prone to use proactive behavior than expected. Our findings suggested that males were more prone than females to adopt passivity strategies, while females were more prone to adopt avoidance tactics. Moreover, the data showed that proactivity behavior was adopted more in the case of online contacts and online identity fraud, while passivity strategies were adopted in the case of online threats. Conclusion: Findings from this investigation show the importance of improving the knowledge about the coping strategies that could be suggested to victims and the impact on their psychological health.

The significance of context and victim–offender relationship for Swedish social workers’ understandings of young men’s violent victimization

This article investigates how social workers’ interpretations of contextual factors and the relationship between victim and offender affect their understanding and assessment of male violent victimization. The study was designed as a multiple case study with a qualitative comparative approach. Focus group interviews supported by vignettes were used to collect data. Interviews were carried out with professional Swedish social workers working with victimized men and women at support units for young crime victims in Sweden. The results show that the social workers consider the violence that the young men are subjected to in cases of street violence and interpersonal violence to be unavoidable or even ‘natural’. The violence was in some cases considered to be dependent on the men’s own agency and in others on their lack of agency, when displaying traits of both more traditional and less traditional forms of masculinity respectively. The social workers’ talk about young male crime victims is interpreted as contributing to making the men appear as less legitimate victims. Even though the social workers argued that the victims’ own behaviour should not lead to any special considerations concerning help efforts, the possibility of upholding such a demarcation between explanations ascribed to the violent incident and help measures offered is problematized in the article.

Refraining from reporting crimes: accounts from young male crime victims with an immigrant background

ABSTRACTInteractions between the police and young people with an immigrant background are well researched internationally and are often discussed in the context of discrimination. Such interactions may explain, at least in part, why these young people do not report crimes to the police when they are the victims of crimes. This article reports accounts from young crime victims who have an immigrant background. The young men who were interviewed mainly portrayed their decisions not to notify the police in the context of masculinity discourse rather than using a discourse of discrimination, even though the interviewers asked specifically about whether discrimination or trust in the police influenced their decision. We argue that these young men’s accounts reflect their preferred self-presentations, since a dicriminination discourse may be tied to a victim identity that is incompatible with hegemonic masculinity.

Methodological Considerations for Research With Black Male Victims of Violent Injury in an Urban Trauma Unit.

There is a body of research over the last three decades that has focused on the etiology of violence among victims of violent injury. This body of literature indicates that Black men are disproportionately represented among victims of violent injury seen in emergency departments and trauma centers across the country. Despite the disproportionate number of low-income young Black men treated for violent injury in urban trauma units and the growing body of literature accompanying it, little is known about the unique methodological challenges violent injury researchers face when conducting research on this vulnerable population in a clinical setting. This article describes the unique and often nuanced methodological difficulties a research team encountered while conducting a longitudinal qualitative study on risk factors for repeat violent injury among low-income young Black male victims of violent injury treated at a Level II trauma center in the Eastern United States. Four methodological challenges are identified: (a) the identification and screening of participants, (b) recruitment and interviewing, (c) understanding hospital culture, policies, and procedures, and (d) retention and attrition of sample. Recommendations to overcome these challenges are offered.

Traumatic Pneumorrhachis in a Young Male Motor Vehicle Accident Victim

Traumatic Pneumorrhachis in a Young Male Motor Vehicle Accident Victim

High prevalence of neuropathic pain in the hand of patients with traumatic brachial plexus injury: a cross-sectional study.

To describe the pain profile of patients with traumatic brachial plexus injury. We enrolled 65 patients with traumatic brachial plexus injury. The Douleur Neuropathique 4 questionnaire was used to classify pain and the SF-36 was used to evaluate quality of life. The patients with traumatic brachial plexus injury were predominantly young male victims of motorcycle accidents. Pain was present in 75.4% of the individuals and 79% presented with neuropathic pain, mostly located in the hands (30.41%). The use of auxiliary devices (p = 0.05) and marital status (p = 0.03) were both independent predictors of pain. Pain also impacted negatively on the quality of life (p = 0.001). Pain is frequent in patients with traumatic brachial plexus injury. Despite the peripheral nervous system injury, nociceptive pain is not unusual. Pain evaluation, including validated instruments, is essential to guide optimal clinical management of patients with the condition.

Etnicitet: ett engagerande men delikat samtalsstoff – brottsutsatta unga mäns återberättade erfarenheter

Ethnicity: an involving topic demanding expressive caution – Young male crime victim’s narrativesThis article analyses some young men’s specific ways of retelling victims’ experience when the perpetrators have an immigrant background. In qualitative interviews with twenty young med, fear of being seen as intolerant was distinguished by their expressive caution. This involved using various aligning actions: presenting disclaimers and accounts, but also in terms of hesitant speak, re-takes and throat clearing, and in some case refraining to talk about the attackers or robbers’ ethnic background. Even if the subject was delicate, it was engaging. The topic of ethnicity associated with crime is used as a resource in several ways: to present oneself as a tolerant person (sometimes in contrast to others having the same experiences) but also as a truth-teller who criticizes what men describe as a societally prescribed way of discussing these matters publicly.

The significance of position for Swedish social workers’ understanding of young men’s victimization of violence

Violence against women and men is a widespread and serious social problem, often with severe consequences for the victims. Even though young men are among those most at risk of exposure to physical violence, men’s victimization is only recognized to a limited extent. The aim of this study is to deepen our understanding of how social workers’ interpretation of the position of males in the gender order affects their understanding of male victimization. The study was designed as a multiple case study with a qualitative comparative approach. Focus group interviews supported by vignettes were used to collect data. Interviews were carried out with professional Swedish social workers working with victimized men and women at centres for young crime victims in Sweden. The results show that even though the social workers express traditional gender beliefs about young men’s experiences of victimization and their inability to identify themselves as victims of violence, they also to some extent resist taken-for-granted notions of male victimization. The results also show that the social workers to some extent offer supportive measures that reinforce traditional expectations of masculinity. On the basis of the results it is suggested that one important way of developing social work with young male victims of violence would be to give greater attention to variations between different men and masculinities and how these different forms of masculinity are differently connected to crime and violence, and to adapt supportive measures to reflect these differences.

Criminal Behavior and Repeat Violent Trauma: A Case-Control Study.

Repeat violent injury is common among young urban men and is increasingly a focus of trauma center-based injury prevention efforts. Though understanding risk factors for repeat violent injury may be critical in designing such interventions, this knowledge is limited. This study aims to determine which criminal behaviors, both before and after the initial trauma, predict repeat violent trauma. Gun, violent, and drug crimes are expected to increase risk of subsequent violent injury among victims of violence. A case-control design examined trauma registry and publicly available criminal data for all male patients aged <40 years presenting for violent trauma between April 2006 and December 2011 (N=1,142) to the sole Level 1 trauma center in a city with high rates of violence. Logistic regression was used to determine criminal behaviors predictive of repeat violent injury. Data were obtained and analyzed between January 2013 and June 2014. Regarding crimes committed before the first injury, only drug crime (OR=5.32) predicted repeat violent trauma. With respect to crimes committed after the initial injury, illegal gun possession (OR=2.70) predicted repeat victimization. Initiating gun (OR=3.53) or drug crime (OR=5.12) was associated with increased risk. Prior drug involvement may identify young male victims of violence as at high risk of repeat violent injury. Gun carrying and initiating drug involvement after the initial injury may increase risk of repeat injury and may be important targets for interventions aimed at preventing repeat violent trauma.

Profile, outcome and predictors of mortality of abdomino-pelvic trauma patients in a tertiary intensive care unit in Saudi Arabia

IntroductionThe Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is one of countries with the world's highest number of deaths per 100,000 populations from road traffic accidents (RTAs). Numerous trauma victims sustain abdomino-pelvic injuries, which are associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to describe profile, outcomes and predictors of mortality of patients with abdomino-pelvic trauma admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) in a tertiary care trauma centre in Riyadh, KSA. MethodsThis was a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected ICU database. All consecutive patients older than 14 years with abdomino-pelvic trauma from March 1999 to June 2013 were included. The followings were extracted: demographics, injury severity, mechanism and type of injury, associated injuries, use of vasopressors and mechanical ventilation, and worst laboratory results in the first 24h. The primary outcome was hospital mortality. We compared profile and outcomes between survivors and non-survivors and reported predictors of mortality. ResultsOf the 11,374 trauma patients who were admitted to the hospital during the study period, 2120 (18.6%) patients had abdomino-pelvic injuries, out of which 702 (33.1%) patients were admitted to the ICU. The mean age was 30.7 (SD 14.4) years and the majority was male (89.5%). RTA was the most common cause of abdomino-pelvic trauma (70.4%). Pelvis (46.2%), liver (25.8%), and spleen (23.1%) were the most frequently injured organs; and chest (55.6%), head (41.9%), and lower extremities (27.5%) were the most commonly associated injuries. Mechanical ventilation was required in 89.6% with a mean duration of 9.1 (SD 9.2) days and emergency surgery was performed in 45.0% of the patients with prolonged ICU and hospital length of stay (10.8 [SD 10.8], 56.9 [SD 96.7] days; respectively). Of the 702 patients with abdomino-pelvic trauma, 115 (16.4%) patients did not survive. Associated head trauma and retroperitoneal haematoma, higher level of lactic acid on admission and ISS, and advanced age were potential risk factors for hospital mortality. ConclusionsAbdomino-pelvic injuries are common in trauma patients, affecting mainly young male victims, and are associated with significant morbidity and mortality, and resource utilisation.

Implementation of a trauma registry in a Brazilian public hospital: the first 1,000 patients.

Show the steps of a Trauma Registry (TR) implementation in a Brazilian public hospital and evaluate the initial data from the database. Descriptive study of the a TR implementation in João XXIII Hospital (Hospital Foundation of the state of Minas Gerais) and analysis of the initial results of the first 1,000 patients. The project was initiated in 2011 and from January 2013 we began collecting data for the TR. In January 2014 the registration of the first 1000 patients was completed. The greatest difficulties in the TR implementation were obtaining funds to finance the project and the lack of information within the medical records. The variables with the lowest completion percentage on the physiological conditions were: pulse, blood pressure, respiratory rate and Glasgow coma scale. Consequently, the Revised Trauma Score (RTS) could be calculated in only 31% of cases and the TRISS methodology applied to 30.3% of patients. The main epidemiological characteristics showed a predominance of young male victims (84.7%) and the importance of aggression as a cause of injuries in our environment (47.5%), surpassing traffic accidents. The average length of stay was 6 days, and mortality 13.7%. Trauma registries are invaluable tools in improving the care of trauma victims. It is necessary to improve the quality of data recorded in medical records. The involvement of public authorities is critical for the successful implementation and maintenance of trauma registries in Brazilian hospitals.

Police awareness and involvement in cases of domestic and partner abuse

The last decade has seen the number of incidents of domestic and partner abuse coming to the attention of the police increase by around 50%. Over the same period, new legislative measures have sought to criminalise and protect against abusive behaviour, while the Scottish Government's Violence Against Women team has developed a national strategy for tackling domestic abuse and guidance for practitioners in the field. In spite of this activity, victims of domestic and partner abuse remain among the least likely to report their victimisation to the police. Moreover, research seeking to explore and understand this issue is scarce. Drawing on Scottish Crime and Justice Survey data, this paper presents an exploratory logistic regression analysis of the factors influencing whether or not the police become aware of victims' experience of abuse. Highlighting that a wide spectrum of individuals experience domestic and partner abuse, this analysis demonstrates clear disparity between key groups of victims in terms of police awareness and attention. Female victims, victims without employment, victims experiencing multiple abuse and victims whose children witness abuse are the most likely to come to the attention of the police. Young victims, male victims and victims in employment are among the least likely. These findings highlight critical gaps in current national policy and guidance, and present an opportunity to reconsider strategies for police/victim engagement.

Rape victim and perpetrator blame and the Just World hypothesis: The influence of victim gender and age

Victims of rape are sometimes blamed for the assaults against them. Research has examined primarily female victims; much less is known about men as victims and whether victim age affects attributions of victim blame. Furthermore, the study investigated the effects of Belief in a Just World (BJW) on blame attributions. Employing a vignette-type experimental study with a 2 (gender of participant)×2 (victim's gender)×2 (victim's age)×2 (participant BJW score) between-subjects design and several measures of blame attributions towards victim and perpetrator as dependent variables, a community sample (n = 164) participated. The main results were as hypothesised, namely that young male victims were attributed more blame, particularly by participants scoring high on BJW. Overall, victim blame level was low and perpetrator blame was high, and BJW was a powerful predictor of blame attributions.

Psychosocial health and gambling problems among men and women aged 16-24 years in the Swedish National Public Health Survey

This study aimed to explore the association between psychosocial health, gambling and gambling problems in a nationally representative sample of Swedish youth aged 16-24 years. Another aim was to examine whether these associations were different between young men and women. Data were from the cross-sectional Swedish National Public Health Survey in 2004-07. With a response rate of 60.1%, the sample consisted of 19 016 youth. Using a sex-stratified multinomial logistic regression, we estimated associations between psychosocial health variables and gambling and gambling problems. Among males, we found that the higher the alcohol consumption, the higher the likelihood of gambling and gambling problems. Men with high alcohol consumption had an almost four times higher likelihood of gambling problems than men with no or low alcohol consumption (OR 3.94, 95% CI: 2.17-7.14). Moreover, young male victims of violence were more than twice as likely to have gambling problems than non-victims (OR 2.35, 95% CI: 1.39-3.99). Among young women, we found an inverse association between high alcohol consumption and gambling problems (OR 0.15, 95% CI: 0.05-0.44), opposite that of the young men. Furthermore, psychological distress (OR 6.15, 95% CI: 2.15-17.60) and suicidality (OR 2.88, 95% CI: 1.16-7.17) were associated with higher probabilities of gambling problems among young women. Alcohol use, violence victimization and poor mental health are associated with gambling problems among Swedish youth, however, with important sex differences. Prevention of youth gambling should consider sex differences and psychosocial health in addition to gambling.