Child Sexual Abuse Research Paper

Any victim of sexual abuse faces the chance of having their development impacted. This is especially true amongst children. Studies have proven that children who have been sexually abused by a female offender often have different developmental experiences (T.A. Gannon, 2008, p. 356). Mental illness is yet another impact that victims face. Many sexual abuse victims transpire into states of depression, rage, and suicide; they even have strained relationships with certain individuals (Denov, 2014, p.

The survivors essentially work better in these ‘crisis modes’ and it helps to mask the underlining issues of what they have suppressed. Most health issues that have been apparent in these situations have been sexual, eating, anxiety, and personality disorders, as well as issues with depression and suicidal behavior among just a few to name. (Kezelman, 2014) This article believes that you have to understand what happened and how it relates to the survivor in order for one to lead a normal life. If a survivor negates the abuse and the issues that they typically higher chance of having a mental issues and are more likely to commit crimes as juveniles and adults.

Sexual abuse can be hard to define because of the many different forms it can take on, the different levels of frequency, the variation of circumstances that can occur. Until a child is fit to function as a self-supporting and informed adult, we have an obligation not to take advantage of their lack of power or protection to inflict damage, or demand submission to acts that are not in their own best interests within. Children are being abused every day in different countries. While commonly accepted wisdom had been that childhood sexual abuse results in long lasting negative outcomes.

The symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder vary. They can include an increased level of anxiety, which can result in difficulty sleeping, concentrating, and an exaggerated response to noise. PTSD can affect a woman who has experienced sexual assault ability to remember past events, in particular events associated with her assault. (2) PTSD can cause feelings of detachment and numbness, as well as a desire to avoid anything that the victim might associate with her assault. While doctors have been able to identify the symptoms in many victims of sexual assault the exact cause of the disorder is still questioned. Is the disorder the body's response to trauma? If so what relationship exists between the symptoms associated with PTSD as trauma? A strong correlation has been found between sufferers of PTSD and poor health. (3) PTSD can lead to depression and sickness. PTSD if not treated can also indirectly cause accidents that can affect a victim's health. These accidents can be the result high levels of anxiety, of a lack of ability to focus, and a lack of ability to respond.

While child sexual abuse survivors may show symptoms of PTSD as well as symptoms that may include anxiety, low self esteem, difficulty setting safe limits with others and relationship problems. Survivors may have bad dreams. They may act out aspects of the abuse in their play. They might show other fears and worries. Young children may lose skills they once learned and act younger than they are. For example, an abused child might start wetting the bed or sucking his or her thumb. Some sexual abuse survivors show out-of-place sexual behaviors that are not expected in a child. Sexual abuse can be very confusing

This paper will examine the impact of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) on women’s sexual behavior in adulthood. Childhood sexual abuse has been associated with a plethora of physical and emotional symptoms in women. It has been noted that there is a significant relationship between this maltreatment and the development of abnormal sexual behavior. Some women who have been abused as children are suffering from lack of sexual desire, emotional distress, sexual dysfunction, or engage in risky sexual behavior as they become adults. This paper has two purposes: (1) to provide a broad overview of the research on long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse on mental and physical health and (2) encourage counselors and therapists alike to seek knowledge of this issue and in turn provide victims of CSA with effective methods to overcome and deal with any long-term issues of childhood sexual abuse.

19). A great majority of children that are sexually abused will show moderate to severe symptoms at some point in their life (Hornor, 2010). The degree of symptomatic behavior depends on the type and severity of sexual abuse, the age and gender of the child, the age and gender of the perpetrator, the relationship between the child and the perpetrator, accompanying physical abuse, and the number, frequency, and duration of abuse (Bahali et al., 2010). Short-term effects of CSA include: impulsive behavior (aggressiveness, hostility), emotional distress (anxiety, fear, and somatic complaints), low self-esteem, dissociative symptoms (amnesia, forgetfulness, dreaming, multiple personality disorder, and fainting), and conversion disorder (Bahali et al., 2010). Long-term effects include: post-traumatic stress disorder, depressive disorder, sexual dysfunction, borderline personality disorder, somatization, eating disorders, self-destructive or suicidal behavior, repeated victimization, criminal behavior, substance abuse and prostitution (Bahali et al., 2010). In agreement, Ozbaran et al., (2008) reported that sexually abused children have a high incidence of behavior problems including anxiety, depression, attention problems, aggression, social problems, social withdrawal, and somatization. Genital CSA is

Children who are physically sexually abused can experience trauma and impediments in the development of the brain. Additionally, Perry (2009) states that the majority of critical structure and functional organization takes place in childhood, and by the age of three the brain has reached 90% of adult size. During this time any experience the child undergoes will last a lifetime. Among the psychological effects of CPSA are intense fear, depression, and anger. Victims also suffer from the long-term effects of

(Oltmanns,Emery, 2015) A trauma may include rape, which in Melinda Sordino’s case is what she experienced. Melinda Sordino can be diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder, as opposed to acute stress disorder, because her disturbance after the trauma had lasted longer than a month. Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder include intrusive re-experiencing, avoidance of reminders of the trauma, increased arousal or reactivity, negative moods or thoughts, and often dissociation. (Oltmanns,Emery, 2015) Weeks after the terrifying experience, Melinda Sordino experienced all of

Two of the consequences of sexual abuse that interest me the most is posttraumatic stress disorder and repressed memory. PTSD is known as an anxiety disorder that occurs in response to experiencing extreme stress (McCoy & Keen, 2014). The rates of PTSD vary among the type of sexual abuse that has occurred (McCoy & Keen, 2014). Victims of sexual abuse usually have to deal with PTSD. They have flashbacks of the terrible indicants, could happen randomly or be triggered by anything. Since the triggers could happen any time, it could prevent the person from prevent the person from being able to move on, which could stop them from living a successful and happy life. Another consequence of sexual abuse is repressed memory. Repressed memory is when the brain forces unacceptable thoughts, desires or memories into the unconscious (McCoy & Keen, 2014). This is done so the brain can protect itself. It takes a lot of energy for the brain to hide these memories and they can reappear caused by a trigger (McCoy & Keen, 2014). It makes

By someone they know. Husbands, former partners, and even friends. Victims of sexual assault survivors often suffer from a wide range of physical and mental health problems such as PTSD, Depression, Chronic pain, anxiety and also eating disorders. They are more

The researchers analyzed the results with cross-tabulation, chi square statistics, analysis of variance, and multiple regression. Most of the subjects were able to respond to sexual stimulation and reach orgasm but did not enjoy it. The women who perceived themselves to be adjusted to their abuse still had some sexual dysfunction.

Research has shown that adult survivors of child sexual abuse often have a myriad of physical and psychological symptoms related to the abuse. There is no clinical evidence of any physical symptoms such as sexual dysfunction, chronic pelvic pain, back pain, headaches, suicide attempts, and eating disorders, gastro intestinal or musculoskeletal complaints. It is unlikely that the claimant did not display any additional symptoms or seek treatment for these symptoms.

There are several mental illnesses that sexual abuse can inflict to the survivors. Some May be a Short term like shock, fear, confusion and withdrawal ( Nicole Yuan, 2006). While some survivors of sexual abuse can experience long term illnesses specifically:

Child sexual abuse has been reported up to 80,000 times a year, but the number of unreported instances is far greater, because the children are afraid to tell anyone what has happened (American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry). Childhood sexual abuse is a traumatic experience affecting the lives of not only the victim, but those close to the victim as well. Many think there is only one person truly traumatized, but in fact, everyone involved is affected. The victim has to deal with their experience the rest of their lives. They may be more at risk for other mental issues as well, including depression. The family involved has to deal with its pain, often causing hardship and discord within the family. This is especially true