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
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
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
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
- Sexual anxiety and disorders
- Poor body image and low
- 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;
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;
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;
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
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,
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,