Effects Of Childhood Sexual Abuse On Children

. (Stewart, ) contends that feelings of vulnerability, unworthiness and powerless difficulty in distinguishing sexual from affectionate behaviours, mistrust, shame, guilt, stigma and mental health problems are psychological effects of CSA. A study conducted by (Wilson, 2010) indicates that adult survivors of CSA show a series of psychological and physical problems throughout their lives. (Hornor, 2010) argues that the majority of children who are sexually abused will be moderately to severely symptomatic at some point in their life. There is evidence to suggest that (Stevenson, 1999) children who are exposed to sexual abuse are at risk negative consequences as a result of the abuse itself, not solely as a consequence of other associated background

Studies have shown a clear correlation between childhood sexual assault (CSA) and negative sexual experiences later in life. Of relevance to the criminal justice system, these later forms of sexual victimization include sexual assault and sex work. The relationship between CSA and adverse sexual development is a correlation between two things, not a direct pathway from cause to effect. While survivors of sexual assault are at a higher risk of experiencing these later forms of victimization, this correlation represents a highly complex process involving a wide range of mediating factors and the intersections between them. Any experience of sexual assault is highly traumatic. Survivors of CSA, however, represent a unique population, because their trauma occurs near the start of the human developmental process and therefore alters all development thereafter.

Sexual abuse is a prevalent crime that can have numerous short and long term effects on a victim. It describes as any form sexual activity that is accomplished by force or threat where consent is not given. This includes rape, molestation, incest, and other similar forms of non-consensual sexual contact. The effects of sexual abuse are not the same for every victim, victims may feel varied responses and emotions that can depend on own situations. The act of abuse may had happened a long time ago or be more recent.

The article that I read was on long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse. The article covers many symptoms that survivors experience as a result of the abuse. Survivors are faced with trust issues, self-blame, and shame. Most of the sexual abuse is performed by someone the child trusts and loves. The effects are many and some that are abused even regress the abuse. Taking that first step to counseling or therapy is the start of the healing process.

The current research shows that child sexual abuse has a long-lasting impact on attachment style from early childhood continuing into adulthood. Fresno et al. (2014) were interested in the attachment representations in preschool aged children in Chile because few studies focus on CSA survivors that young and the results of those few studies have not been conclusive. Past studies have found inconsistent results; some studies have determined a CSA is directly linked to insecure attachment representations in survivors, and other studies have found no differences in self-representation among children with CSA history and non-abused children and furthermore, children who were sexually abused had more positive representations of themselves than

In the past ten years researchers have increase their knowledge on the understanding of the different effects that maltreatment has on early brain development. A foundation has been set for the neurobiological explanations of children who have experienced sexual abuse in their early years of life. The explanations include areas of physical, cognitive, social, and emotional struggles. There are many different internal and external factors that associate with the way the child develops into adulthood. Variables that can be taken into account are individual factors and environmental factors. For example individual factors consist of children’s temperaments and vulnerability. In regards to environmental factors this contains how caregivers portray abuse along with overall family atmosphere. Some other specific variables associated with abuse are duration, amount of violence, and relationship between victim and abuser. In addition, age has a strong impact on the victim in regards to adult sexual behavior. When a child is abused at a young age he or she is more likely to engage in sexualized external behavior. At the age of six or younger, children have a higher chance to show their abuse through inappropriate and aggressive sexualized behavior. As for older children of twelve and up they lean more towards fear of sex. These children shoe more internal behavior problems as well (Aaron, 2012).

In the typical classroom, a 4-year-old child once said, “If someone wants to have sex with you, you have to do it.” (Rafanello) Child abuse is more prevalent now than ever, and the numbers are only growing. This shows us that child abuse is more relevant now than ever. The amount of damage inflicted on these children mentally range from mild to extreme. This is why it’s important that child abuse gets reported as soon as possible.

increased anxiety, fears, emotional lability, depression, oppositional and conduct disorders, and substance abuse are other reported sequelae to sexual abuse. Interpersonal difficulties, increased rates of re-victimization later in life, and increased risk for suicide are encountered more frequently among child sexual abuse (p. 2).

Sexual abuse can start at any age. Children do not know any better then what they are told, so they think what their parent or parents are doing to them is acceptable by touching them seductivly on parts of their genital area. Their is a complete difference in the way a parent or care giver touches a child unacceptably versus acceptably which is by wiping the child's genital areas to just remove just poop or pee to clean the child so they are healthy. Unacceptably is when the child is being touched excessively for pure pleasure this is illegal and should be reported if seen. This is how it starts off and becomes more and more intense over time. At first the child does not feel forced into this or feels threatened because they have so much trust at such a

It is always so saddening to hear about sexual abuse especially when it involves a child, but many times there are more damaging psychological and emotional effects when a child is sexually abused. These effects can be short or long term and might not appear until later in life when the child has grown and understands what has happened. Events like these can alter a child’s perspective on life because sexuality is a big part of healthy development, but when it is important that sexuality occurs at the correct time of development and not in the form of sexual abuse.

“Sexual abuse can be visible in many different ways, sometimes beyond what appears on the surface or the skin. Normal findings of sexual abuse are not excluded form child abuse.” Like emotional abuse, there are signs for sexual abuse. (Hilton, L., 2015) The way a child acts can depict whether or not they are in an abusive situation. “If being sexually abused, a child may display inappropriate sexual behavior, sexual play,” and things that a child at a young age should not know about. A sexually abused child may also have aggressive sexual behavior. “Some researchers tend to agree that sexual abuse is a distinct occurrence, but most studies of other forms of abuse ignore their potential differences.” (J. F., & Lee, C. S., 2004)

To conclude, the need to understand the differences and similarities between male and female sexual abuse is imperative before diagnosing the sexual abuse. To categorize only (PSTD) posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and aggression as the only main association with sexual abuse is misleading as it misses out on the other side effects such as cognitive distortions, emotional pain, and dysfunctional family. Not only does childhood sexual abuse have a dynamic short impact, but also a long-term impact transitioning into adulthood (Briere & Elliott, 1994). Long-term adjustment of the symptoms in adulthood is difficult. The long-term impact may include psychological difficulties. These long-term psychological difficulties include: posttraumatic stress, cognitive distortions, emotional pain, dysfunctional family, avoidance, interpersonal difficulties, and an impaired sense of self, and (Briere & Elliott, 1994). Also, documents provided by the physician claims that children who were sexual abuse at a young age denies the abuse when they were older. (Briere & Elliott, 1994). This may imply that the stigmatization is high or the side effects are extremely severe for the child to

Finally, the author mentioned that at a young age of a child who was sexual abuse, once the child report this case to their parents and the family is supportive, it helps reduce lots of abuse related symptoms than a family who lacks emotional, trusting, or psychical support for the child. For instance, a child that was sexual abuse who grew up with a dysfunctional family, such as smoking, or a single parenting that child would be more likely to form an addiction to substance abuse drugs than family who trusted the child and supported the child. From my opinion, I believe that most of this sexual abuse related symptoms are linked with each other. For instance, the author mentioned anxiety, but anxiety can lead to anger and withdrawn from

Abstract: Childhood abuse has been present throughout many years but it has never been brought into life as it is today. The child’s brain is just as a sponge, absorbing every detail of their daily lives. If the child lives in an environment where there is abuse, that child in the future will do the same because it was what he got used to. Many parents use violence as a form of punishment when they do not realize that by only being violent, they are creating a trauma on the child which can lead in the future to depression, substance abuse, physical abuse and losing touch of reality. Even though children have to learn to have an education, do not resort to abuse.

Childhood sexual abuse is a worldwide concern in today's time. This type of abuse rarely results in death, but is consequences can be serious and carry on into adulthood. Childhood sexual abuse has not been strongly related to higher levels of depression , guilt, self blame, eating sickness, fear, stress, dissociative patterns, denial, sexual and relationship problems.