Men’s Experiences With Image-Based Sexual Abuse in the United States: Victimization Contexts, Emotional Experiences, and Perceived Vulnerabilities

Image-based sexual abuse (IBSA) is a growing form of technology-facilitated sexual violence, with increasing prevalence across the globe and significant psychological and social consequences. This study explores the unique experiences of United States men victim-survivors of IBSA using a transcendental phenomenological approach to examine how they interpret the interpersonal contexts surrounding their victimization, the forms of abuse they experience, their emotional responses, and the factors they perceive as shaping their vulnerability. Findings highlight the role of intimate partner dynamics in facilitating abuse, with victimization commonly occurring following relational conflict. Participants also described blackmail and retaliatory dissemination as the primary forms of abuse and reported profound emotional consequences following their victimization. Socioeconomic circumstances and social identities also emerged as perceived vulnerability factors. This study underscores the importance of addressing the gendered nature of IBSA, where men (stereotypically framed as perpetrators) are increasingly recognized as victims of this form of abuse. The results call for a reexamination of societal norms around sexual violence and the legal system's response to IBSA, emphasizing the need for more inclusive support structures and policies that account for the unique experiences of male victims.