Child Sexual Abuse
This information comes from Facts for families sheet No. 9
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, and the legal procedure for
validating an episode is difficult. The problem should be identified,
the abuse stopped, and the child should receive professional help. The
long-term emotional and psychological damage of sexual abuse can be
devastating to the child.
Child sexual abuse can take place within the family, by a parent,
step-parent, sibling or other relative; or outside the home, for
example, by a friend, neighbor, child care person, teacher, or
stranger. When sexual abuse has occurred, a child can develop a variety
of distressing feelings, thoughts and behaviors.
No child is psychologically prepared to cope with repeated sexual
stimulation. Even a two or three year old, who cannot know the sexual
activity is wrong, will develop problems resulting from the inability
to cope with the overstimulation.
The child of five or older who knows and cares for the abuser becomes
trapped between affection or loyalty for the person, and the sense that
the sexual activities are terribly wrong. If the child tries to break
away from the sexual relationship, the abuser may threaten the child
with violence or loss of love. When sexual abuse occurs within the
family, the child may fear the anger, jealousy or shame of other family
members, or be afraid the family will break up if the secret is told.
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 The child may become withdrawn and mistrustful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.
Some children who have been sexually abused have difficulty relating to
others except on sexual terms. Some sexually abused children become
child abusers or prostitutes, or have other serious problems when they
reach adulthood.
Often there are no obvious external signs of child sexual abuse. Some
signs can only be detected on physical exam by a physician.
Sexually abused children may also develop the following:
- unusual interest in or avoidance of all things of a sexual nature
- sleep problems or nightmares
- depression or withdrawal from friends or family
- seductiveness
- statements that their bodies are dirty or damaged, or fear that
there is something wrong with them in the genital area
- refusal to go to school
- delinquency/conduct problems
- secretiveness
- aspects of sexual molestation in drawings, games, fantasies
- unusual aggressiveness, or
- suicidal behavior
Child sexual abusers can make the child extremely fearful of telling,
and only when a special effort has helped the child to feel safe, can
the child talk freely. If a child says that he or she has been
molested, parents should try to remain calm and reassure the child that
what happened was not their fault. Parents should seek a medical
examination and psychiatric consultation.
Parents can prevent or lessen the chance of sexual abuse by:
Telling children that if someone tries to touch your body and do things
that make you feel funny, say NO to that person and tell me right away
Teaching children that respect does not mean blind obedience to adults
and to authority, for example, don't tell children to, Always do
everything the teacher or baby-sitter tells you to do
Encouraging professional prevention programs in the local school system
Sexually abused children and their families need immediate professional
evaluation and treatment. Child and adolescent psychiatrists can help
abused children regain a sense of self-esteem, cope with feelings of
guilt about the abuse, and begin the process of overcoming the trauma.
Such treatment can help reduce the risk that the child will develop
serious problems as an adult.
This information comes from Facts for families sheet No. 9 (Updated
May 2008) made
by the American
Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
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