The impact of sexual assault on heterosexual couples

Abstract

There is a large body of literature suggesting that rape and sexual assault can have an enduring psychological impact on female victims, including an impact on their intimate relationships. The present study explores the impact of sexual assault on heterosexual relationships and the experiences of male partners of women who have been assaulted. Six men took part in semi-structured interviews about their experiences following their partner's disclosure of assault. These data were supplemented by interviews with three women who discussed the impact of their assault on their partners. Interview transcripts were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Themes arising included difficulties in providing support to the female partner following an assault; communication between the partners; the impact of the assault on the couple's sexual relationship and the male partners' issues of anger and blame in relation to the assault. Implications of the findings for service provision are discussed.

Keywords:

• rape
• sexual assault
• heterosexual relationships
• support
• blame

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the men and women who volunteered to take part in interviews and staff at the Ambrose King Centre, Royal London Hospital, for their help in carrying out this study.