The prevalence and correlates of male sexual victimization among the Belgian population

• In Event: The prevalence and cause of sexual violence and victimization

Abstract

Sexual victimization is typically presented with a female victim and a male perpetrator, despite data suggesting that men are also sexually victimized. The combined results of several studies however suggest considerable variability in the prevalence estimates of male sexual victimization with estimated prevalence rates found to vary between 0.2% and 66.3%. To guarantee the generalizability of the results, it is essential to do so through a large-scale study among men in the general population. Large-scale studies in the general population are rare but critical to advance our understanding of male sexual victimization. To date, eight studies worldwide have assessed male sexual victimization among representative community samples. Of these eight studies, three have done so at a national level and all three studies have been carried out in the United States. In this paper, we present the first results of a pioneering study in Belgium that measures sexual victimization at a national level. By contacting over 10,000 male Belgian citizens, the prevalence of a broad range of sexually unwanted behaviors is measured. This study therefore provides more insights in the prevalence of male sexual victimization and allows us to research its adverse consequences and risks.

Authors

• Joke Depraetere, Institute for International Research on Criminal Policy (IRCP), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

• Christophe Vandeviver, Ghent University

• Tom Vander Beken, Institute for International Research on Criminal Policy (IRCP), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

• Ines Keygnaert, International Centre for Reproductive Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium