Mental Health Effects Of Sexual Abuse And Women

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.

     There are two sides to a rape, the rapist and the victim. The victim is most of the time a woman but men are raped as well. It is a common myth that there is a type of woman that is more likely to be raped. This is indeed a myth, most of the time rape is a crime of opportunity, the victim is not chosen because of her looks or behavior, but because she is there (Benedict 2). The average rape victim is 18-39 years old and female, the average rapist is 25 years old and male. The effect of rape on a woman is an enormous one. The woman will come away from a rape with both physical and psychological damage. Eventually the physical wounds will heal, the psychological wounds will take quite some time before or if they ever heal (Grady 4). A sexual assault robs the woman of a sense of control; a feeling of loss of freedom is common among rape victims. To put her life in order she must regain this sense of control. Almost all rape victims suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder (Benedict 2). The first symptom is the reliving or re-experiencing of the

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

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.

One of the most perverse traumas experienced by children is sexual abuse. Sexual abuse is an unfortunate reality for many children all over the world. Most

An article written about the effects of sexual abuse in accordance with male victims, claims: “[t]hree perspectives of early family relationships and attachment theory, developmental psychopathology, and trauma theory provide a conceptual understanding as to why some victims are vulnerable to the effects of sexual abuse while others appear resilient to it.” Although the study's main objective is to understand the developmental effects of male CSA survivors, it also notes that the majority of the data collected about the psychological well being of the sample is also representative of female CSA survivors. In a similar study on the repercussions of sexual abuse in male victims, Scott Eastman depicts a table simply explaining the process of coping, or the problems tied to CSA. Much like a story line, there is a beginning a middle and an end after the initial incident, but not all survivors reach the stages of completion and often times face difficulties coping. In the middle stage of the process, is distraction, obsessive review. These are symptoms tied to PTSD, defined as a disorder which a traumatic event causes flashbacks, nightmares, and uncontrollable thoughts about the event. It may reasonably be concluded that the obsessive thoughts are tied to PTSD because reviewing the traumatic experience may give the illusion of understanding to the survivor. In the final Stage of the process, following acceptance, is

Sexual abuse is any sexual act that is committed against someone’s will, also called sexual violence it covers a range of offenses, including a completed nonconsensual sex act, an attempted nonconsensual sex act, abusive sexual contact, and non-contact sexual abuse. Approximately one in six boys will have experienced some form of sexual abuse prior to reaching the age of 18, that number may even be higher given the understandable reluctance of children to report such crimes. Sexual abuse occurs at the hands of fathers,

There are five typologies of rape: power-reassurance, power-assertive, anger retaliatory, and sadistic. Power-reassurance, “is characterized by feelings of inadequacy and poor social skills and does not inflict injury upon his victims” (National Center for Women and Policing, 2001). These rapists will often coax a person using soft tactics and they do not intend to harm their victim. They tend to commit these crimes to elevate their self esteem. Power-assertive crave to overpower their target. These rapists use aggressive methods of control and are impulsive. Anger retaliatory rapists, “often degrades or humiliates the victim” (Simons). These rapists are motivated mainly by the emotional satisfaction once they release their anger. Sadistic rapists fantasize of torture and pain. These rapist are known to extensively plan, will act charming, and intelligent. They get their sexual satisfaction from the victims’ suffering. Rape syndrome, “is the group of reactions – emotional, physical, and behavioral – reported by victims of attempted or completed rape” (“Rape Trauma Syndrome”). Victims develop feelings of humiliation, degradation, guilt, shame, embarrassment to self-blame, anger, revenge, and most often fear. This can be fear of physical

According to RAINN, “Every 98 seconds an American is sexually assaulted.” That being said within the course of a year, 321,500 are victims of sexual violence. Ages 13-34 remain at the highest risk of sexual assault and 90% of them are victimized females. Take a second to think back to the age of thirteen, imagine how life would differ knowing how sexual assault affects someone. People who have been raped or sexually assaulted suffer serious physical and/or psychological consequences: psychological effects, physical changes and PTSD.

When sexual abuse occurs (particularly for men, during their developing years), they can come to associate sex with their self-worth. The abuse can be so damaging, the person can begin to identify themselves with that abuse and the gratification it gave the abuser. A damaging perception is then created that they need to continue to gratify others in order to feel fulfilled.

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

Even though children may have displayed negative behaviors and attitudes. According to several studies, they are not clear on whether those behaviors existed before the abuse or if they are effects of the abuse. Some professionals believe that it is difficult to generalize the effects of sexual abuse on children. E. Hollenberg and C. Ragan stated that “the effects of child sexual abuse are characterized by great variation and range from short-term to those that endure throughout adulthood” (Hollenberg & Ragan, 1991, p.179). Something else to note is that children who experience child maltreatment and/or other trauma between the ages of two and four, are at a higher risk of developing things such as memory problems, difficulty regulating emotions, and problems integrating sensory experiences (Hutchison, 2015).

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

Many individuals tend to misinterpret sexual abuse and it's true delicacy. Although sexual abuse is often a violation against women, both genders can be victims. Victims can succumb to mental disorders, including PTSD and depression, which can initiate an unhealthy lifestyle to the point of triggering a contemplation of suicide.

Why does child sexual abuse happen and what are the effects of it? “Child sexual abuse is sexual contact with a child that occurs as a result of force or in a relationship where it is exploited because of an age difference or caretaking responsibility” (Finkelhor). Roughly 1.8 million children have been sexually victimized in the United States (NSOPW). Although there is no proof that racial or socioeconomic groups is a factor in a predators choosing, studies show that children who have parent complications or stepparents in their life are at a higher risk of experiencing sexual abuse, granted it could happen to anyone. Vulnerability is extremely present in ages between nine and twelve, but approximately a quarter of incidents take place before the child is eight years old (Finkelhor). However, sexual assault is severely under reported with about only 32% of incidents on record.