Sexual Harassment Perception and Disclosure: A Preliminary Study of Adolescent Boys in Mangaluru, India

Objectives Societal expectations of male strength and toughness create a climate where male victims of sexual assault are disbelieved and shamed, leading to silencing and further victimisation. The present research assessed the perception of sexual harassment among adolescent boys and examined the barriers they face when disclosing these experiences. Material and Methods This quantitative, descriptive survey was conducted among 272 adolescent boys enrolled in Pre-University colleges. Participants were recruited using a convenience sampling technique. Data collection involved using a socio-demographic questionnaire, the Boys’ Perception of Sexual Harassment Rating Scale, and the Barriers to Disclose Sexual Harassment Checklist. Subject matter experts validated the instruments. Before data collection, ethical approval was obtained from the institutional ethics committee, and permission was secured from the respective college authorities. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software version 27. Results The demographic profile of the participants revealed that 30.9% were 17 years old, and 57.8% were from families with Above Poverty Line (APL) cards. A significant proportion of the sample resided in hostels, 52.2% in college hostels and 63.5% in private hostels. Notably, 18.3% of the participants reported experiencing sexual harassment. The majority reported a neutral perception of sexual harassment. In contrast, barriers to disclosure of the sexual harassment checklist reported barriers were fear/fault of perpetrators (55.9%), safety and protection (53.3%), victim blaming (52.9%), mistrust (52.9%), shame, fear, and stigma (52.6%). There is a negative correlation between perception and barriers to disclosing sexual harassment among adolescent boys. Conclusion This study demonstrates a significant prevalence of sexual harassment among teenage boys. It identifies substantial barriers to disclosure, highlighting the urgent need for interventions that address both societal stigmas and practical obstacles to reporting.