Childhood Sexual Abuse 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 effects of childhood sexual abuse carry on with the children forever. To what extent and to what effect does abuse have on children during adulthood? What are the main issues that adults have been abused suffer from in adulthood? Do they have more of a physical issue with preforming with their partner in the bedroom or do they have more of a mental block due to their trauma? The world had been asking these questions for far too long and we need answers on how helping the children of our world. The questions that have been stated have been answered through the two articles that will be summarized below.

The statistics of prevalence for child sex abuse varies because of all the unique cases of child sex abuse that is reported. Although, statistic show that one in three girls will be sexually abused at one point in the United States and boys are one in seven to be sexually abused (Anderson, 2014). Children are not susceptible to crime as shown in the statistics because predators like pedophiles have fetishes towards little boy or girls. One study found that 10% of children experienced or came close to experiencing a form of sexual violence which would include rape, sexual assault, or harassment (Anderson, 2014). The numbers shown in the statistics are higher because of the unreported cases. 30% of cases involving child sex abuse are reported to the local authorities and 73% to 87% of female adolescents who are abused sexually are not treated or identified by by the community (Anderson, 2014). Child sex abuse is also costly because it costs the United States an estimated $103 billion for the abuse and negligence (Anderson, 2014). On another note, 80% of children who have been sexually abused have symptoms of PTSD (Anderson, 2014).

While negative effects manifest differently in females than males, the abuse is equally damaging to both genders. In my experience, most male CSA victims are riddled with feelings of guilt and shame. Most often their abuse was perpetrated by a trusted male during a critical time in development. Although the sexual contact was unsolicited and unwanted, their body had a physiological response to stimulation. This confusion often contributes to the victim’s belief that the abuse was somehow their fault, therefore “causing an unwillingness to admit to being victimized, and difficulty making negative attributions regarding an otherwise positive person” Ondersma et al.). Rind’s utilization of a college sample excludes the aforementioned male CSA victims. Since their maladaptive behaviors often lead to addiction, delinquency, and poor academic performance, males who suffered more maladaptive effects are very unlikely to be included in a college sample. Therefore, Rind’s findings can’t be accurately generalized to the majority

This paper reviews several articles that discuss the lasting effects that sexual abuse can have on a child into their adult years. The articles agree that victims of child sexual abuse (CSA) will most likely suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or experience revictimization. This paper will also address the common forms of coping that victims of child sexual abuse take part in. Some research will touch on proper healing techniques for victims of CSA to receive.

As many as one in three females have experienced sexual abuse by the age of 18 (Russell, 1986). Many survivors of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) experience negative psychological symptoms (Browne & Finkelhor, 1986; Kendall-Tackett, Williams, L. M., & Finkelhor, 1993). These women may later in life engage in relationships. The negative impact of sexual abuse could result in challenges faced by the relationship due to shame and difficulty with trust (Kochka & Carolan, 2002; MacIntosh & Johnson, 2008). CSA may also result in sexual challenges for the couple (Kochka & Carolan, 2002). Research has found that couples therapy can be of significance to the healing of the CSA survivor as well as functioning and growth in the relationship (Kochka &

Child sexual abuse is an ever-present, psychologically and physically damaging event that occurs daily to hundreds of children. Unfortunately, child sexual abuse is not going away any time soon and the lives of so many precious children are altered forever. These abused children often grow up to be psychologically damaged adults with emotional, cognitive and physical issues that may never be able to be conquered. Far too many adults live with the pain of their secret and it can be quite debilitating. Adults who were abused as children may have many problems in their

Childhood sexual abuse is a serious concern that has been associated with long term effects amongst survivors. Using secondary data, this qualitative piece of research explores the long term effects of child sexual abuse in later adult life. The purpose for this study is to create awareness to professionals that sexual abuse effects continue long after the abuse stops thus, sufficient knowledge on the characteristics of the abuse.

CSA can have short and long-term outcomes on the children. The outcomes do not come in certain order; it can happen differently to each child. Some of the outcomes that a child can have are post-traumatic stress disorder anxiety, eating disorders, drug abuse, sexuality-related distress, and depression (R.J. Zeglin et. Al., 2015). CSA can cause trauma on the child and as a consequence a child can have issues with their physical such as back pain, bladder disorders, chronic fatigue, chronic pelvic pain, obesity, but not limited to other physical conditions (C.H. Fox, A. Cornwall, 2013). Girls and boys can respond different to CSA. The primary difference between is that boys tend to have an external negative emotions and girls tend to have internal emotions. Boys are most likely to have issues in school, with drug abuse, and other risky behaviors, while, girls are most likely to have higher risk of depression and anxiety (R.J. Zenglin et. Al., 2015). On the study done by R.J. Zenglin et. Al. (2015), Does Having Children Moderate the Effect of Child Sexual Abuse on Depression, the results indicated that children who experience CSA history are more likely to have worse physical health, be unemployed, and to not have a college education than those children who have no history with CSA. In a study done by Briere and Runtz (1986), and also review by Peters and Range (1993), they found out the children with history of CSA have also, higher risk for suicidal behavior as a result of lower self-esteem and self-blame cause by CSA (C.M. Chelf & J.B. Ellis (2002). Many children feel powerless and unwanted by the society caused by the CSA. The results of CSA are indicators of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, that is why children who have experience CSA believe that they do not have reasons to

Sexual abuse has a way to mentally and physically damage a human being; just the thought of that recurring nightmare is enough to damage a child’s spirit. It is honestly hard or unknown to understand where or how sexual abuse actually comes from. People would think that when people are victims of sexual abuse, it would often be a stranger who is stalking them and hurting them. Instead, it is people whom the victims knew or are familiar with who are the ones that are hurting them. For children, they become adults, it would be hard for them to trust anyone ever again. However, when seeing abuse from a

CSA research has primarily focused on the experiences of girls, yet data suggests CSA of boys is far more common than generally perceived (Dorahy & Clearwater, 2012; Payne, Galvan, Williams, Prusinski, Zhang, Wyatt, & Myers, 2014). International studies have found that 5-10% of males report having been sexually abused in childhood (Easton, Coohey, Rhodes, & Moorthy, 2013). However, accurate prevalence rates are difficult to obtain due to low rates of abuse disclosure among boys and men (Payne et al., 2014). The discrepancy between reported and actual rates of CSA has led to significant research into the experience of male victims of CSA and the process of their disclosure (Allagia, 2005; Dorahy & Clearwater, 2010; Easton, 2013; Easton et al.,

To improve coping with the effects of childhood sexual abuse, survivors can benefit from a variety of therapeutic approaches. Because of the complexity of survivors ' mental health

Additionally, it can be argued that with more resources such as counseling and programs where sexual abuse victims can talk to others, it is almost certain the time the victims take to “bounce back” is much quicker because they have people around them that can relate and rely on each other in many ways socially and emotionally. If somebody were to google “resources for sexual abuse victims”, there would be most assuredly be thousands of websites that people can visit and can be considered an over abundance of resources. Lack of resources does not necessarily mean websites that random organizations created to draw people in and make money. Lack of resources, in this research paper at least, mean in person clubs and groups, and even a feeling that the community around you support you and accept you, sympathize with you, and help you. Without these resources, victims often have blaming thoughts for many years. An article writes, “It should really come as no surprise that survivors blame themselves; it seems that society only takes rape seriously when the victim was violently overtaken by a stranger jumping out of the bushes. For most of us, our rapists were wolves in sheep’s clothing. They were our dates, our friends, our teachers, our cousins or fathers or mothers or husbands” (Understanding Child Abuse). When it comes to the book, that quote directly relates to Celie. The abuser in Celie’s life is her father and husband, not some random stranger on the street. Additionally, in the 1910’s and 1920’s, it was rare

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

There are many forms of child abuse. Not only can children be physically abused, but they are also in danger of experiencing sexual abuse. In the more recent years, child sexual abuse has come to the attention of a larger part of society. As such, it is becoming more openly discussed. Child sexual abuse is a growing problem, and the stories that have begun to circulate around the world work to illustrate just how serious the problem is. Despite what society is lead to believe, the sexual abuse of a child is the least common out of all forms of child abuse. Out of the different types of child abuse, neglect is the most common, followed by physical abuse, and then sexual abuse comes at the bottom. Still, of all the cases of child abuse reported to and substantiated by authorities, approximately 15% of them concerned sexual abuse. ). It is possible that there are more cases of child sexual abuse, however, and they simply are not being reported. Due to the number of undisclosed cases of child abuse, researchers have conducted various prevalence studies over the years to determine the true number of sexual abuse of children. These studies have determined that around 20% of women and 5-10% of men in America in were sexually abused as children. A great deal of controversy surrounds the number of male victims of child sexual abuse, due to a lack of quality studies. The problem with prevalence studies is that they don 't all share the same definition of abuse, nor do they share