2. • AMA definition: “the engagement of a child
in sexual activities for which the child is
developmentally unprepared, and cannot
give informed consent”. Child sexual
abuse is characterized by deception, force
or coercion.
3. • Incest – familial sexual abuse
Characteristics of family
Often occur within a long term, trusting
relationship with the perpetrator
Lasts average of 4 years
4. • Average age of child who is sexually
abused in age 9. Most vulnerable between
8 and 12.
• Research suggests that as many as 95%
of perpetrators are heterosexual males
• Older children and adolescents are most
likely victims when perpetrator is a female.
5. • 1 in 4 girls
• 1 in 6 boys
• 1 in 5 children sexually solicited while on internet
• Nearly 70% of all sexual assaults occur to
children under 17
• Only 10% of children are abused by strangers
• May be family member, older children they
know, trusted person outside of family
• Darkness to Light, Statistics Surrounding Child Sexual Abuse, www.D2L.org
6. • Child sexual abuse effects long term psychological and
social well-being
• Severity of trauma symptoms is impacted by many
factors:
age at first abuse
longer duration of abuse
multiple perpetrators
use of force
lack of support/belief at disclosure
penetration
absence of a caring, supportive non abusing parent
7. Effects of sexual abuse
• Often demonstrated behaviorally by
rebellious behavior- running away, eating
disorders, SA, criminal behavior, academic
problems, sexual issues in own
relationships
• Low self esteem
• PTSD symptoms
• Victims often experience shame and guilt
8. • Children may not disclose until after abuse
has stopped
• Many children disclose “accidentally”
• Children generally do not fabricate abuse.
In cases of claims of fabricated abuse,
often the report is from an adult, speaking
for the child.
9. • As with any trauma experience, what
happens after the trauma is critical in how
the trauma affects the victim
• Behavioral health problems are often
associated with trauma experiences
• Dissociation greatest predictor of PTSD
and subsequent behavioral health
problems
