- Child Sexual Abuse
By The American
Academy Of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
- No. 9; Updated July 2004
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.
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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. |
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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child may become withdrawn and mistrustful of adults, and can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 physical
signs of child sexual abuse. Some signs can only be detected
on physical exam by a physician.
Sexually abused children may
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.
For additional information see
Facts for Families:
#4 The Depressed
Child
#5 Child Abuse
#10 Teen Suicide
#28 Responding to Child Sexual Abuse
#62 Talking to Your Kids about Sex
#73 Self-Injury in Adolescents
See Also: Your Child (1998 Harper Collins) / Your Adolescent
(1999 Harper Collins).
Copyright © 1997 by the
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. |
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