What are the Effects of Child Sexual Abuse?
Children who experience sexual abuse can suffer a range of psychological and behavioural effects, from mild to severe, in both the short and long term.
The effects of child sexual abuse vary depending on the circumstances of the abuse, the child’s developmental stage and how the adults around the child respond to the abuse.
The experience of child sexual abuse can change the way a child understands their world, the people in it and where they belong. Their understanding of themselves and the world around them can become distorted, and create feelings of mistrust, fear, and betrayal. Depending on the relationship and duration of the sexual abuse, subsequent relational trauma could affect their ability to connect with others and themselves. Their personality and behaviour might change markedly from what they were prior to the abuse.
The manipulative nature of grooming that many sexual offenders use to get close to their victims can cause ongoing thought distortions, self-identity issues, relational harm and isolation of the child.
Child sexual abuse is associated with many different negative impacts including medical, psychological, sexual, self-harm, and others. Adult survivors of child sexual abuse may experience sexual disturbance or dysfunction, depression, and anxiety. Research has found that anxiety, fear, and suicidal ideation and behaviour are more likely in instances where the perpetrator used force and threat of force. The age of onset of the abuse, duration and outcome is characteristic of higher trauma symptom levels. For example, the longer the duration of the abuse the greater impact on the child’s identity.
Effects of Child Sexual Abuse - Bravehearts
Possible short-term effects of child sexual abuse
Increased illness, body aches or other physical complaints
Poor attendance or performance at school
Difficulty concentrating or memory loss
Mood changes
Regressive behaviours
Sleeping and eating disorders
Lack of self-esteem
Nightmares
Self-harm or suicidal thoughts
Self-hatred or reduced self-esteem
Disinhibited behaviour
Zoning out or not listening
Possible long-term effects of child sexual abuse
Suicidal ideation
Post-traumatic stress
Sexual difficulties
Inability to form lasting relationships
Identity difficulties
Relationship problems
Parenting difficulties
Alcohol and substance misuse
The development of violent behaviour
The development of criminal behaviour
Believing children and getting them the right support can help reduce long-term trauma symptoms
How the adults around the child initially respond to the abuse can greatly affect the long-term outcome for the child and impact their ability to recover from associated trauma symptoms.
If a child is not believed and supported appropriately after a disclosure it can lead to a higher level of trauma for the child, resulting in significantly more negative long-term physical and mental health outcomes for the child.
Conversely, if the adults around the child act protectively, the child is believed and the right support is provided, the child has the best possible chance of recovering from the trauma.
I’m not going to make the mistake of making her feel she is a victim. Instead I am going to make sure she sees herself just as she always has, and that what he did was wrong and he needs to be punished for his thinking he can do as he pleases. I will need help to ensure she does not see herself in a negative light.
The effects of child sexual abuse vary depending on the circumstances of the abuse, the child’s developmental stage and how the adults around the child respond to the abuse.
The experience of child sexual abuse can change the way a child understands their world, the people in it and where they belong. Their understanding of themselves and the world around them can become distorted, and create feelings of mistrust, fear, and betrayal. Depending on the relationship and duration of the sexual abuse, subsequent relational trauma could affect their ability to connect with others and themselves. Their personality and behaviour might change markedly from what they were prior to the abuse.
The manipulative nature of grooming that many sexual offenders use to get close to their victims can cause ongoing thought distortions, self-identity issues, relational harm and isolation of the child.
Child sexual abuse is associated with many different negative impacts including medical, psychological, sexual, self-harm, and others. Adult survivors of child sexual abuse may experience sexual disturbance or dysfunction, depression, and anxiety. Research has found that anxiety, fear, and suicidal ideation and behaviour are more likely in instances where the perpetrator used force and threat of force. The age of onset of the abuse, duration and outcome is characteristic of higher trauma symptom levels. For example, the longer the duration of the abuse the greater impact on the child’s identity.
Effects of Child Sexual Abuse - Bravehearts
Possible short-term effects of child sexual abuse
Increased illness, body aches or other physical complaints
Poor attendance or performance at school
Difficulty concentrating or memory loss
Mood changes
Regressive behaviours
Sleeping and eating disorders
Lack of self-esteem
Nightmares
Self-harm or suicidal thoughts
Self-hatred or reduced self-esteem
Disinhibited behaviour
Zoning out or not listening
Possible long-term effects of child sexual abuse
Suicidal ideation
Post-traumatic stress
Sexual difficulties
Inability to form lasting relationships
Identity difficulties
Relationship problems
Parenting difficulties
Alcohol and substance misuse
The development of violent behaviour
The development of criminal behaviour
Believing children and getting them the right support can help reduce long-term trauma symptoms
How the adults around the child initially respond to the abuse can greatly affect the long-term outcome for the child and impact their ability to recover from associated trauma symptoms.
If a child is not believed and supported appropriately after a disclosure it can lead to a higher level of trauma for the child, resulting in significantly more negative long-term physical and mental health outcomes for the child.
Conversely, if the adults around the child act protectively, the child is believed and the right support is provided, the child has the best possible chance of recovering from the trauma.
I’m not going to make the mistake of making her feel she is a victim. Instead I am going to make sure she sees herself just as she always has, and that what he did was wrong and he needs to be punished for his thinking he can do as he pleases. I will need help to ensure she does not see herself in a negative light.
31-35, F
