What is it about?
This study looks at how men cope in adulthood with sexual abuse they experienced in childhood. Based on in-depth interviews with 25 Israeli men - Secular Jewish, Ultra-Orthodox Jewish, and Arab - the findings show that recovery is not a straight line but a complex journey that affects the body, emotions, and relationships. Many participants described shame and a damaged body image, along with feeling “less of a man.” Some spoke about feeling disconnected from their bodies or emotions, while others described a strong need for control and constant alertness in order to feel safe. Difficulties with intimacy were also common, including fear of closeness and the burden of whether, when, and how to disclose the abuse to partners. Despite cultural differences between the groups, similar masculine expectations - such as being strong, self-controlled, and protecting family honor - made it harder for men to seek help or speak openly about their experiences. The study highlights that recovery is shaped not only by personal healing processes but also by the cultural environment and by social ideas about what it means to be a “man.”
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Why is it important?
This study gives voice to men whose experiences are often hidden and rarely discussed in public conversation. While much research on childhood sexual abuse focuses on women or treats men as one uniform group, this study shows how men’s recovery is shaped by the cultural worlds they live in - including expectations about strength, modesty, and family honor. By listening to the stories of Secular Jewish, Ultra-Orthodox Jewish, and Arab men, the research reveals both shared struggles and culturally specific pathways of coping and healing. The study offers a deeper understanding of how trauma can affect not only emotions but also the body, relationships, and sense of identity. It challenges common myths - for example, that men are always strong, unaffected, or able to “move on” quickly. Instead, it shows that recovery is a gradual and complex process shaped by social expectations about masculinity. By bringing these stories into the open, the research can foster empathy, reduce stigma, and encourage more supportive, culturally sensitive responses to male survivors in families, communities, and professional settings.
Perspectives
Writing this article was not only an academic process but also a deeply personal and ethical journey. Listening to men speak about experiences they had often carried in silence for many years required me to move slowly, respectfully, and with a strong sense of responsibility. Many of the interviews stayed with me long after they ended — not only the pain that was shared, but also the resilience, creativity, and courage the men showed in rebuilding their lives. As a researcher, I had to balance analytical distance with human closeness: to interpret narratives rigorously while never losing sight of the trust that made the research possible. This process also reshaped my own understanding of masculinity, vulnerability, and recovery. I became more aware of how cultural expectations can both constrain men and provide them with tools for survival. Writing the article meant holding complexity — harm alongside strength, silence alongside voice, fragmentation alongside repair. Ultimately, the work reinforced my belief that research is not only about producing knowledge, but also about creating space for stories that are rarely heard to enter public awareness and collective dialogue.
Amos Nimni
Universitat Bar-Ilan
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: From embodied shame to intimacy: How cultural scripts shape recovery among Israeli men after childhood sexual abuse., Psychology of Men & Masculinity, February 2026, American Psychological Association (APA),
DOI: 10.1037/men0000553.
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