There are many factors that help determine how a young man will develop into a mature adult. This research paper will discuss three of these factors and how they can negatively affect an adolescent male's development: sexual or physical abuse, self-esteem, and pubertal timing. Eventually it will be clear what influences a teenager's mental, emotional and physical health and what makes a male capable of feeling confident in his own skin. The world we live in focuses primarily on women who were physically, emotionally or sexually abused as children. However, young males are often overlooked as victims of sexual abuse. Jozef Wawrzyniec Spychala Spiegel states in the International Journal of Sexual Health that approximately 16% of males – or approximately 1 in 6 – experience sexual abuse before the age of 18” (Spiegel, 2008, pp. 147). Research shows different patterns of abuse experienced by male adolescents, as well as the devastating effects that commonly manifest later in victims' lives. First, it is important to establish the definition of abuse. In Spiegel's study, childhood sexual abuse is defined as “(1) any sexualized contact (2) imposed on a male child under the age of 18 (3) occurring within a relationship in which he was considered violent by the child (4) because of age differences, power differentials, and/or physical, social, or developmental differences (5) and which occurred as a result of a perceived threat or force” (Spiegel, 2008, pp. 150) . Spiegel and his team studied 459 male participants, of whom 38 percent had a history of sexual abuse. Using the Sexual Self Concept Scale, participants were asked a series of questions regarding their masculinity, self-esteem, and sexual health. The king...... middle of paper ....... Sexual abuse, early or late pubertal maturity and self-esteem and how it is affected by mental health. Young males who experience sexual assault demonstrate their inability to become mentally stable men. Kids who go through puberty early can get into trouble because they aren't cognitively mature enough to make good decisions. And those with low self-esteem show a higher rate of depression in their mental health. Young people need guidance, structure and a safe environment to progress healthily and naturally into adulthood. These components should come not only from their parents and teachers, but above all from their peers. Their social networks will play a significant role in who they become as a person. This is especially important to recognize in the counseling field as we seek to establish healthy parameters in the lives of the clients we work with..