Throughout the United States, sexual abuse is more common that one may think and is not always understood to it’s full definition. In fact, in her book, Why Me? Help for Victims of Child Sexual Abuse (Even If They Are Adults Now), Lynn B. Daugherty, Ph.D., states that one in every four children are subject to some type of sexual abuse by the time they are eighteen years old. That means twenty-five percent of children some form of sexual abuse before they are adults. Although it is often thought of as physical harm during sexual intercourse, there is much more to sexual abuse than that. So, what does sexual abuse really entail and what are the long term effects of sexual abuse on children? Sexual Abuse is any sort of non-consensual sexual contact. Child Sexual Abuse is sexual abuse performed by an adult or any older child. These acts can include things such as inappropriate touching, penetration, encouraging of sexual activities including prostitution, intentionally engaging in sexual acts in front of a child, and pornography. Sexual abuse also includes any sexual act caused by trickery, trapping, force, or bribery. Contrary to popular opinion, manipulation is a real thing and is indeed used to emotionally and physically harm people. Activity that is seemingly consensual physically isn’t always consensual mentally; there is often reluctance and confusion occurring that is not apparent just by visual observation. Many different psychological and physical tests can be done on victims of sexual abuse to help accurately understand their situations and how they have been affected by them. Though most sexual abuse case examinations are too difficult to get accurate statistics on, being there is so many variations in severity, age, circum... ... middle of paper ... ...l abuse leaves a controversial trail of aftereffects." Science News 25 Sept. 1993: 202+.General OneFile. Web. 12 Mar. 2014. "Childhood sexual abuse impacts sexuality development." Women's Health Weekly 17 July 2003: 50. General OneFile. Web. 12 Mar. 2014. "Child Sexual Abuse Facts." - The Children's Assessment Center Houston, Texas USA The Children's Assessment Center. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2014. Daugherty, Lynn B. Why Me?: Help for Victims of Child Sexual Abuse, Even If They Are Adults Now. Racine, WI: Mother Courage, 1984. Print. HAGEN, MARGARET A. "Damaged Goods?" Skeptical Inquirer Jan. 2001: 54. General OneFile. Web. 12 Mar. 2014. Turner, Matthew Paul. What You Didn't Learn from Your Parents about Sex: A Guide to a Touchy Subject. Colorado Springs, CO: TH1NK, 2006. Print. "What Is Sexual Abuse?" Definition of Sexual Abuse -. N.p., 2009. Web. 12 Mar. 2014.
Burton, D. L. (2003). Male adolescents: Sexual victimization and subsequent sexual abuse. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 20(4), 277-296.
The importance of growing up in today’s society and being educated about sexual abuse is an important aspect of knowledge everyone should have. Many parents also do not recognize the warning signs from their children early on to prevent them from turning into something bigger.
Finkelhor, D., Hotaling, G., Lewis, I., & Smith, C. (1990). Sexual abuse in a national survey of
Easton, S. D., Coohey, C., O'leary, P., Zhang, Y., & Hua, L. (2010). The Effect of Childhood Sexual Abuse on Psychosexual Functioning During Adulthook. J Fam Viol , 41-50.
Based on an article by the National Alert Registry by Dr. Herbert Wagemaker, four percent of the population suffers from sexual orientation toward children. In 1999, 93,000 kids were sexually abused. 50% of the abusers were parents of th...
Mayer, Adele. Sexual Abuse: Causes, Consequences and Treatment of Incestuous and Pedophilic Acts. Holmes Beach: Learning Publications, 1985.
Paolucci E., Genuis, M. L., & Violato, C. (2001). A meta-analysis of the published research on the effects of child sexual abuse. The Journal of Psychology, 135(1), 17-36. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/213817819?accountid=158847
Sexual abuse cannot be clearly defined with ease. In fact, sexual abuse is an umbrella term for any sort of situation, whether or not it involves physical contact, in which a sexually immature child is exposed to anything sexual in nature. Because no child is psychologically mature enough for sexual stimulation, the complex feelings associated with it are mentally and emotionally disfiguring. Children who have been sexually abused experience an array of negative emotions such as shame, guilt and anger, and may display oddly withdrawn or distrustful behaviors. They cannot help but feel that they somehow brought the abuse unto themselves (Saisan, et al). One major contributing factor to these severe psychological consequences is the concept of trust. Sexual abuse is, in most cases, committed by a parent or other trusted adult figure. While children are naïve on such adult topics, they can still get an overwhelming feeling that the attention is wrong, yet they are unsure of how to cope with it. If the child has an emotional atta...
Terry, K., & Tallon, J. Child Sexual Abuse: A Review of the Literature. Web. December 8, 2014, from http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/child-and-youth-protection/upload/child-sexual-abuse-literature-review-john-jay-college-2004.pdf
Child abuse is a serious issue in today's society. Many people have been victims of child abuse. There are three forms of child abuse: physical, emotional, and sexual. Many researchers believe that sexual abuse is the most detremental of the three. A middle-aged adult who is feeling depressed will probably not relate it back to his childhood, but maybe he should. The short-term effects of childhood sexual abuse have been proven valid, but now the question is, do the long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse affect middle-aged adults? Many contradicting views arise from the subject of childhood sexual abuse. Researchers and psychologists argue on this issue. Childhood sexual abuse has the potential to damage a child physically, emotionally, and behaviorally for the rest of his or her childhood, and the effects have been connected to lasting into middle-aged adulthood.
Meston, C. M., Rellini, A. H., & Heiman, J. R. (2006). Women's history of sexual abuse, their
Feldman, W., et al. 1991. "Is Childhood Sexual Abuse Really Increasing in Prevalence?" Pediatrics 88: 29–33.
explores the theory of four traumagenic dynamics, or factors of abuse that lead to long term trauma. These dynamics include traumatic sexualization, betrayal, stigmatization, and powerlessness. According to Finkelhor, traumatic sexualization “a process in which a child’s sexuality (including both sexual feelings and sexual attitudes) is shaped in a developmentally inappropriate and interpersonally dysfunctional fashion as a result of sexual abuse.” In this study, betrayal refers to the feelings of a child who has discovered that someone they trust has abused or mistreated them in some way. These feelings are often not just towards their abuser, but also towards family members/guardians who have disregarded their suffering rather than protected them from abuse.
Widom, Cathy S. "Victims of Childhood Sexual Abuse: Later Criminal Consequences." Trooper (March 1995): 1-8. NCJRS. Web. 15 Mar. 2011.
It is most important to understand that children and teens of all racial, religious, ethnic, gender and age groups, at all socio-economic levels are sexually abused. Although there are risk factors that may increase the possibility of sexual abuse, sex abuse can be found in all types of families, communities, and cultures (The Scope of, 2016). Childhood sexual abuse is an important issue to address because the impact of sexual does not end when the abuse ends. Childhood trauma follows into adulthood and can have long-range effects. “Survivors of sexual abuse are at significantly greater risks for severe and chronic mental health issues, including alcoholism, depression, anxiety, PTSD and high risk behaviors” (The Scope Of, 2016). Victims may experience traumatic sexualization, or the shaping of their sexuality in “developmentally inappropriate” and “interpersonally dysfunctional” ways (Effects of Child, 2012). “A child who is the victim of prolonged sexual abuse usually develops low self-esteem, a feeling of worthlessness and an abnormal or distorted view of sex. The child may become withdrawn and mistrustful of adults, and can become suicidal” (Effects of Child, 2012). Overall, the effects and impact of childhood sexual abuse are long lasting and do not diminish when the abuse ends, their childhood trauma follows them into