Adult male report of childhood sexual abuse by mothers: case descriptions, motivations and long-term consequences.

Sexual abuse of male children by their mothers is rarely reported. However, it may not be as rare as commonly believed. Eight case histories are presented which exemplify mothers' sexual abuse of their sons to satisfy the mothers' own needs. In no case was the mother psychotic. In seven cases the mother began the seduction and sexual abuse while the son was prepubescent and continued until at least early adolescence. As adults, each of these sons experienced difficulty maintaining an intimate emotional and sexual relationship with one person, and most presented with some degree of depression. Substance abuse was present in five of eight cases.