SEXUAL ASSAULT RECOVERY AND MALE SIGNIFICANT OTHERS

A questionnaire addressing rape crisis services for male significant o thers (MSOs) of rape victims (i.e., husbands, fathers, brothers, close male friends) was mailed to the directors of all 700 rape-prevention and -treatment programs in the United States. Completed questionnaires were received from 411 programs, including 162 that were identified s pecifically as full-service rape crisis centers. Although 97% of the c enter directors responded that services for MSOs facilitate victim rec overy, few centers offered services to males other than referral or sh ort-term crisis counseling. Furthermore, 85% of the directors acknowle dged that males were reluctant to use these services. The authors offe r strategies for involving men in the recovery process with the assist ance of rape crisis centers, including groups for secondary victims an d staffing and referral considerations.