| Child
sexual abuse includes a wide range of sexual
behaviors that take place between a child and
an older person. These sexual behaviors are
intended to erotically arouse the older person,
generally without consideration for the reactions
or choices of the child and without consideration
for the effects of the behavior upon the child.
Behaviors that are sexually abusive often involve
bodily contact, such as in the case of sexual
kissing, touching, fondling of genitals, and
oral, anal, or vaginal intercourse. However,
behaviors may be sexually abusive even if they
don't involve contact, such as in the case of
genital exposure ("flashing"), verbal
pressure for sex, and sexual exploitation for
purposes of prostitution or pornography.
Who are the perpetrators of child sexual
abuse?
Legal definitions of what constitutes child
sexual abuse usually require that the perpetrator
be older than the victim. For example, in some
states perpetrators must be at least five years
older than their victims for the behavior to
be considered child sexual abuse.
Most often, sexual abusers know the child they
abuse but are not relatives. In fact, about
60% of perpetrators are nonrelative acquaintances,
such as a friend of the family, babysitter,
or neighbor.
About 30% of those who sexually abuse children
are relatives of the child, such as fathers,
uncles, or cousins.
Strangers are perpetrators in about 10% of
child sexual abuse cases.
Men are found to be perpetrators in most cases,
regardless of whether the victim is a boy or
a girl. However, women are found to be perpetrators
in about 14% of cases reported against boys
and about 6% of cases reported against girls.
Child pornographers and other perpetrators
who are strangers now also make contact with
children using the Internet.
How does one know if a child has been
sexually abused?
Researchers estimate that, in our country, about
10% of boys and 25% of girls are sexually abused.
Unfortunately, there are often no obvious signs
that a child has been sexually abused. Because
sexual abuse often occurs in private, and because
it often does not result in physical evidence,
child sexual abuse can be difficult to detect.
There is not a "child sexual abuse syndrome,"
or any symptom that a majority of sexually abused
children exhibit.
What are some symptoms sexually abused
children exhibit?
Some children may show symptoms of PTSD, including
agitated behavior, frightening dreams, and repetitive
play in which aspects of the abuse are expressed.
Because of their sexual abuse, children may
show sexual behavior or seductiveness that is
inappropriate for their age.
As a result of abuse, children, especially
boys, tend to "act out" with behavior
problems, such as cruelty to others and running
away.
Other children "act in" by becoming
depressed or by withdrawing from friends or
family.
Sometimes children may try to injure themselves
or attempt suicide.
What can parents and caretakers do
to help keep children safe?
Talk to your children about the difference between
good touch and bad touch. Tell the child that
if someone tries to touch his or her body and
do things that make the child feel uncomfortable,
he or she should say NO to the person and tell
you about it right away.
Let children know that they have the right
to forbid others to touch their bodies in a
bad way. Let them know that respect does not
always mean doing what those in authority tell
them to do. Do not tell them to do EVERYTHING
the babysitter or group leader tells them to
do.
Alert your children that perpetrators may use
the Internet, and monitor your children's access
to online websites.
Most importantly, provide a safe, caring environment
so children feel able to talk freely about sexual
abuse.
What should parents and caretakers
do if they suspect abuse?
If a child says she or he has been abused, try
to remain calm.
Reassure the child that what has happened is
not his or her fault.
Seek a medical examination and psychological
consultation immediately.
Know that children can recover from sexual
abuse, particularly if they have the support
of a caring, available parent.
Get help yourself. It is often very painful
to acknowledge that your child has been sexually
exploited. Parents can harm children further
if they inappropriately minimize the abuse or
if they harbor irrational fears related to the
abuse. Therapy can help caretakers deal with
their own feelings about the abuse so that they
are able to provide support to their children.
What are the possible long-term effects
of child sexual abuse?
If child sexual abuse is not effectively treated,
long-term symptoms may persist into adulthood.
These may include:
PTSD and/or anxiety
Depression and thoughts of suicide
Sexual anxiety and disorders
Poor body image and low self-esteem
The use of unhealthy behaviors, such as alcohol
abuse, drug abuse, self-mutilation, or bingeing
and purging, to help mask painful emotions related
to the abuse
If you were abused as a child and suffer from
any of these symptoms, it may help you to get
help from a mental-health professional who has
expertise in working with people who have been
sexually abused.
Recommended Books That Address Child
Sexual Abuse
Allies in Healing: When the Person You Love
Was Sexually Abused As a Child, a Support Book
by Laura Davis. (1991). Harperperennial Library;
ISBN 0060968834
The Courage to Heal: A Guide for Women Survivors
of Child Sexual Abuse by Ellen Bass and Laura
Davis. (1994). Harperperennial Library; ISBN
0060950668
Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence
from Domestic Abuse to Political Terror by Judith
Herman. (1997). Basic Books; ISBN 0465087302.
Shattered Assumptions: Toward a New Psychology
of Trauma by Ronnie Janoff-Bulman. (1992). The
Free Press; ISBN 0029160154
Victims No Longer: Men Recovering from Incest
and Other Sexual Child Abuse by Mike Lew, Foreword
by Ellen Bass. (1990). HarperCollins; ISBN 0060973005
Wounded Boys Heroic Men: A Man's Guide to Recovering
from Child Abuse by Danial Jay Sonkin and Lenore
E. A. Walker. (1998). Adams Media Corporations;
ISBN 1580620108
References
Ackerman, P. T., Newton, J. E.O., McPherson,
W. B., Jones, J. G., & Dykman, R. A. (1998).
Prevalence of post traumatic stress disorder
and other psychiatric diagnoses in three groups
of abused children (sexual, physical, and both).
Child Abuse & Neglect, 22, 759-774.
Boney-McCoy, S. & Finkelhor, D. (1996).
Is youth victimization related to trauma symptoms
and depression after controlling for prior symptoms
and family relationships? A longitudinal, prospective
study. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology,
64, 1406-1416.
Collings, S. J. (1995). The long-term effects
of contact and noncontact forms of child sexual
abuse in a sample of university men. Child Abuse
and Neglect, 19, 1-6.
Jumper, S. (1995). A meta-analysis of the relationship
of child sexual abuse to adult psychological
adjustment. Child Abuse and Neglect, 19, 715-728.
Kendall-Tackett, K. A., Williams, L. M., &
Finkelhor, D. (1993). Impact of sexual abuse
on children: A review and synthesis of recent
empirical studies. Psychological Bulletin, 113,
164-180.
Neumann, D. A., Houskamp, B. M., Pollock, V.
E., & Briere, J. (1996). The long-term sequelae
of childhood sexual abuse in women: A meta-analytic
review. Child Maltreatment, 1, 6-16.
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