Coun 611 Lasting Effects of Child Sexual Abuse

Being sexually abused is a very traumatizing experience, and this form of victimization at a young age only amplifies the situation. The mortifying nature of child sexual abuse often brings along with it changes in the victim's life. Some of the numerous short term effects (problems that impact them while they are still at a young

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.

The definition of “child sexual abuse” has come a long way since its origin. Today, it is defined as any sexual act between an adult and a minor, or between two minors, when one exerts power over the other; this includes non-contact acts such as exhibitionism, exposure to pornography, voyeurism, and communicating in a sexual manner by phone or Internet. However, the issue of child sexual abuse was irrelevant until it was brought to the public’s attention by Western

Claire Burke Draucker , Donna S. Martsolf , Cynthia Roller , Gregory Knapik , Ratchneewan Ross & Andrea Warner Stidham (2011) Healing from Childhood Sexual Abuse: A Theoretical Model, Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 20:4, 435-466, DOI: 10.1080/10538712.2011.588188

179). Marsh (2008) further reports that people who are exposed to severe trauma and PTSD symptomatology further exacerbate their mental health with other co-occuring psychological disorders, particularly depression. Children who have been sexually abused suffer psychological and emotional consequences at the time it occurs and when they reach adolescence (Geldard, Geldard, & Foo, 2015). Van der Kolk (2001) highlights depression, self hatred, dissociation, suicidal ideation and relationship problems as common psychological symptoms (cited in Marsh, 2008). Widon (1994) asserts that ‘sexual victimization prior to adolescence contributes to the risk of delinquency in young people’ (cited in Geldard & Geldard, 2014, pp.24). According to Alexander and Kempe (1984) the most serious type of sexual abuse is ‘incest between father and daughter’ (cited in Geldard & Geldard, 2014, pp. 25). Studies show that victims are reluctant to divulge their childhood sexual abuse (Read, Hammersley, & Rudegair,

The presenting problem of childhood sexual abuse is a multidimensional trauma. Occurring at such a young age, CSA can have physically, sexually, psychologically, and emotionally detrimental outcomes (Calvert, Kellett, & Hagan, 2015). Depression, maladaptive social behaviors, PTSD, and self-blame have all been reported as psychological reactions to CSA (Gold, 1986; Alexander et al., 1989; Willows, 2009). The very definition of childhood sexual abuse is constantly up for debate, but the Center of Disease Control (CDC) describes CSA as “any completed or attempted (noncompleted) sexual act, sexual contact with, or exploitation (i.e., noncontact sexual interaction) of a child

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a prevalent phenomenon in society, with approximately one in three girls and one in ten boys under 18 years of age experiencing it (Loeb et al., 2002). For the purposes of this paper, CSA will be defined as any sexual behavior, forced or coerced, performed on someone who is aged 18 years or younger, any sexual contact with a child 12 years and younger by someone at least five years older, and any sexual contact with an adolescent between the ages of 13 -18 years and an adult ten years older or more (Hiebert-Murphy, 1998). Recently, some research has found that mothers who reported instances of abuse in their childhood also had children who had been sexually abused, suggesting that CSA is an intergenerational

Abuse during childhood can be a very traumatic experience that can have many unfortunate consequences on a child’s development and successful long-term functioning. The initial effects of abuse commonly reported by children include feelings of fear, shame, anger, rejection, hopelessness, and a perceived sense of worthlessness. However, many of these initial effects only increase over time and continue plaguing victims into adulthood. Adults experiencing long term effects of childhood sexual abuse report high frequencies of anxiety attacks, suicidal ideation, nightmares, depression, and an acute fear of trusting others. Fear of being re-victimized keeps them from functioning normally in society and forming meaningful, healthy relationships.

Most sexually abused children develop issues later in life that affect their everyday lives physically and psychologically. Abuse victims feel depression, anger, and anxiety. Additionally, victims also experience chronic pain around their pelvic area even as adults (Adult). However, abuse doesn’t just stay in one generation. Its effects are passed on as the abused become the abusers. In relationships, those affected by abuse tend to sexually, physically, and even verbally harass their partners. Due to a warped understanding of relationships because of their abuser, victims generally have a difficult time developing meaningful, lasting relationships. They are often more receiving to abuse, feeling that it’s their fault they endure the pain inflicted on them. According to The

The impact of Childhood Sexual Abuse is dependent in many ways depending on the type of and severity of the abuse. Some of these factors include: age of child when abuse first occurred, how long the abuse lasted, developmental stage of the child, relationship of the abuse to the child, whether forces was used to ensure the child’s participation, degree of shame or guilt experienced by the child, reaction of the child parent(s) and other professionals and other professionals if and when the child reveals the abuse or it is discovered by another person.

Numerous mental impacts of CSA are found in offspring of all ages. Children who are sexually abused are at considerably greater risk for stress and other anxiety symptoms, sadness and suicide ideation. These emotional issues can cause substantial distractions in normal development and often have a lasting impact, leading to dysfunction and distress well into adulthood. Behavioral problems, including physical aggression, non-compliance, and oppositionality occur frequently among sexually abused children and adolescents (Saunders, B.E., Kilpatrick, D.G., Hanson, R.F., Resnick, H.S., & Walker, M. E, 1999).

One in six boys in the United States have experience childhood sexual abuse by the time they are 18 years old. The effects of childhood sexual abuse can be long-lasting and is a huge public health problem. There is a belief that male victims of sexual abuse do not suffer from the same negative impact that female victims do and we, as a society seem to turn a blind eye and minimize the impact when it comes to male victims. However, there is empirical support that shows men, like women, who experience sexual assault may suffer from mental and physical health problems as a result of sexual abuse which can lead to a variety of problems which includes internalizing and externalizing problems such as depression and anxiety, shame, fear, embarrassment, aggression, drug and alcohol addiction, avoidance, and low self-esteem. Sexual abuse is painful and traumatic no matter who it happens to, but males who have been sexually abused often delay disclosure and carry their feelings around in silence or use avoidance coping strategies so they can try and live a normal life.

Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) and Adolescent Sexual Abuse (ASA) basically encompasses the involvement of a child in sexual behaviors or activities that the child is neither physically nor mentally prepared to initiate or to get involved into. It includes all the cases of victims who lack the capacity to consent, as well as the legal standards specific to each country. Of the different forms of child abuse, CSA and ASA is linked to severe injury. Numerous empirical studies have established a relationship among CSA, ASA and psychological injuries such as Major Depressive Disorder, Dysthymia, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Phobic Disorders, which may become manifest in the short-term or become chronic. In order to assess the effects of child and adolescent

Sexual abuse is one type of abuse that is common and often not reported. While “child sexual abuse is reported up to 80,000 times a year, the number of unreported instances is far greater…” (Children’s advocacy, n.d.) “Sexual abuse is unwanted sexual activity, with perpetrators using force, making threats or taking advantage of victims not able to give consent” (“Sexual abuse”, 2015).This paper will look at the physical, mental, emotional, and social/behavioral effects sexual abuse has on the victims. The scope of this paper is academic journals or peer reviewed articles from within the past 11 years. Sexual abuse may occur when the victim is a child, but may also occur when the victim is an adult. This paper does not specify the

Child sexual abuse is an immorality that is desolately predominant in our world today. The definition of sexual exploitation with children happens when an elder person, a youth or an adult uses a child or youth for his or her own sexual satisfaction (Biodun, 2000). By definition a child is under the Child’s Rights Act any person under the age of eighteen years. (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004)