The Journey

The Facts of Childhood Sexual Abuse (CSA)…

  1. 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 6 boys are victims of childhood sexual abuse.1
  2. Estimates are that up to 40% of children are asymptomatic.2
  3. Approximately 85% of CSA victims never report their abuse.3
  4. The most common form of CSA is incest.4
  5. Children with disabilities are 4-10 times more vulnerable to CSA than their non-disabled peers.1

 

The Facts about Perpetrators…

  1. Approximately 34% of perpetrators are family members.5
  2. Approximately 59% of perpetrators are known to the child (family friends, babysitters, child care, neighbors).5
  3. Approximately 7% of perpetrators are strangers to the child.5
  4. Of these perpetrators, around 23% are under the age of 18.6
  5. Nearly 70% of child sex offenders have between 1 and 9 victims.7

 

The Facts about The Effects…

  1. Common signs are mostly behavioral and can include: depression, anxiety, anger, loss of appetite, withdrawal from normal activities, substance abuse, self-mutilation, fear of certain places or people, bed-wetting, night sweats, nightmares and thoughts of suicide.  Sexual acting out and language that is not age-appropriate are also signs.8

  2. “Childhood sexual abuse has been correlated with higher levels of depression (the most common long-term symptom), guilt, shame, self-blame, eating disorders, somatic concerns, anxiety, dissociative patterns, repression, denial, sexual problems, and relationship problems”.9

 

The Healing Process…

Each survivor responds to trauma in different ways and there is no “right” way to heal. It is a lifelong process. Survivors may experience some or all of the following stages and emotions…10

  • Denial and confused awareness
  • Recognizing that healing is possible & deciding to heal/reaching out
  • Remembering & believing the abuse happened
  • Breaking the silence
  • Understanding the abuse wasn’t their fault & connecting to the child within
  • Grieving, anger, forgiveness, spirituality
  • Clarity of feelings & emotions
  • The process of change & resolution

References:

  1. Arata, C. (2002). Child Sexual Abuse and Sexual Revictimization. Clinical Psychology, 9: 135-164.
  2. Child Sexual Abuse: What Parents Should Know. American Psychological Association. February 19, 2014.
  3. https://fortress.wa.gov/cjtc/www/images/APSAC%20Handbook%20chapter%20Disclosure.pdf and http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-34904705
  4. Hall, M., & Hall, J. (2011). The long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse: Counseling implications.
  5. http://www.parentsformeganslaw.org/public/statistics_childSexualAbuse.html and https://rainn.org/get-info/effects-of-sexual-assault/adult-survivors-of-childhood-sexual-abuse
  6. https://www.nsopw.gov/en-US/Education/FactsStatistics
  7. Finkelhor, D., Ormrod,R., Chaffin, M. (2009). Juveniles who commit sex offenses against minors. Juvenile Justice Bulletin, OJJDP, Office of Justice Programs.
  8. http://cachouston.org/child-sexual-abuse-facts/
  9. https://www.counseling.org/docs/disaster-and-trauma_sexual-abuse/long-term-effects-of-childhood-sexual-abuse.pdf?sfvrsn=2
  10. http://www.theadvocacycenter.org/adv_abuseheal.html