Child Sexual Abuse Essay

Rind, Bauserman, and Tromovitch’s (1998) meta-analysis of childhood sexual abuse was controversial and challenging to read. The article challenged many of my preconceived notions about how trauma is manifested in children who have been sexually assaulted. There is a very wide range of incidents that could fall under the umbrella that is considered childhood sexual assault. This wide range could potentially cause a large margin of error in findings of research on effects of childhood sexual assault. However, I would disagree with Rind et al. (1998) when they say that abuse to a child is not always harmful. A child could internalize their emotional responses to abuse or could be provided with adequate mental health treatment, which could ease

When sexual abuse occurs children often act or behave in ways that are counterintuitive to what society believes they should behave. In 1983, Dr. Roland Summit developed the Child Sexual Abuse Accommodation Syndrome model to help others understand the many ways in which children react to sexual abuse. The model is broken down into 5 stages, the first two Secrecy and Helplessness are the preconditions to the occurrence of sexual abuse and the remaining three Entrapment and Accommodation, Delayed, Conflicted, and Unconvincing Disclosure, and the finally Retraction, are sequential contingencies which take on increasing variability and complexity (Summit, 1983). Children are more than often sexually abused by someone they know and trust.

“Child sexual abuse has been correlated with higher levels of depression, guilt, shame, self-blame, eating disorders, somatic concerns, anxiety, dissociative patterns, repression, and denial. It has been shown that survivors often take personal responsibility for the abuse.” (Browne & Finklehor, 1986 p. 66-77). Often times, children are abused by someone close to them; either someone they know, or someone they trust. Thus, when the abuse is done by a trusted adult, it may be hard for the child to view the perpetrator in a negative light, causing the victim to obtain self-blame and self-hatred.

In the article “ The Developmental Impact of Child Abuse on Adulthood: Implications for Counselors,” Adultspan Journal explains the multiple effects of child abuse. The authors April Sikes and Dancia Hays explain how child abuse has an extremely negative effect on children as they transition into adulthood. These effects can be physical, social, and even mental. Being treated badly as a child increases the risks in social development. Some examples of this are substance abuse, criminal behavior, violence, and risky sexual behavior.

According to Kolk, Hopper and Crozier, all forms of maltreatment have the ability to have significant lasting effects on “cognition, behavior, affect and social interaction.” And can affect neurotransmitter and neuroendocrine systems as well as the immune system of a child. The level of trauma experienced is subjective to the child’s background, age, and environment; amongst numerous other factors but it’s usually affected with an experience of child abuse. It is rather important to note that as the statistics show, all types of abuse, not only neglect have the ability to create major negative impacts in any child’s brain development. Every type of abuse may give us a clue as to why we still see high levels of crime, violence, and further abuse to continue to haunt the world today.

Similarly, when children are abused sexually they may develop eating disorders by gaining or losing weight, change their appearance during pregnancy, or gain difficulty walking or sitting. Many adults that have been sexually abused in their childhood are more likely to engage in prostitution because of psychological trauma. Likewise, physical and sexual abuse, emotional abuse and neglect cause many psychological problems not just in their childhood but also when they turn adults. Children develop problems at school because of the lack of concentration, low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, trouble sleeping and turn aggressively. As adults, they experiment problems in relationships, mental health problems, and resentment or anger which sometimes makes them abuse other children.

It is found that from the years 2009 to 2013, a documented 63,000 children were reported as victims of sexual abuse or harassment. Statistically, it is also found that every eight minutes, Child Protective Services find evidence or claims of child sex abuse. The effects of this abuse can be long-lasting and consequently affects the mental health of a victim. It is found that victims who encounter sexual harassment are four times as likely to develop drug abusiveness, post traumatic stress disorders, and three times as likely to develop anxiety or depressive episodes (Children and Teens: Statistics). The consequences of sexual abuse are not only found to be confined to the times of incidents but develop lasting effects on the victims long after the incident occurs.

In this case study, Liana Garcia is experiencing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder. Liana is overwhelmed at the possibility that her current boyfriend sexual assaulted her daughter. This emotional tragedy regenerated flashbacks of the sexual abuse she endured during her childhood. Liana feels ashamed and guilty about her personal traumas, and the likelihood of her child dealing/ living with this traumatic event exacerbated her PTSD into major depressive disorder and suicidal thoughts and drugs to “numb” herself of any feelings. Liana is continuously victimized by the dangerous conditions of her life and threats to her personal safety and her children 's safety.

Sexualassault.ca (2014) reports that 80% of sexual assault incidents occur in the home or by a friend of family member (“Numerical Response”, para. 1). Victims of sexual assault by an offender they have a relationship with are less likely to report an incident because they are often also victims of abusive relationships or blame themselves and do not want to cause any extra problem (p. 204). The victims of sexual assault are often affected for their rest of their lives by potentially experiencing flashbacks, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, contracting a sexually transmitted disease or an unwanted pregnancy (Sexual Trauma and Assault Response Services, n.d., “Effects”, para. 2, 6,

Maltreatment has a severe impact on a child’s current and future functioning and development regarding their emotional, social, cognitive, behavioral, and physical wellbeing.(Frederico 345). Different types of abuse, such as physical, emotional, and sexual have different consequences, but the consequences of all maltreatment, are likely to happen in three stages. Firstly, a child may have an initial reaction such as post-traumatic symptoms, painful emotions, and cognitive distortions. Secondly, children develop coping strategies that are aimed to help increase their safety or reduce their pain. Thirdly, a child 's sense of self-worth is damaged and develop the feeling of shame and hopelessness..

In class, we were taught that most abused children do not grow to be abusers, but some do and they were most likely abused themselves by their parents (Notes January 25). The

(James, 2008) Children who are sexually abused are generally abused by someone that they know. Men are not the only ones that sexually abuse children. Women who have been abused themselves tend to

The age at the beginning and the ending of the abuse is significant as it may cover multiple developmental stages spanned by the maltreatment and

It isn't always easy to notice emotional abuse because there are not any physical signs as there are in physical abuse. But, like physical abuse, hyperactivity, depression, and PTSD is seen, in emotional abuse. But there are other consequences of emotional abuse, as well. And even though it's hard to determine a direct cause and effect, of abuse, these are some of the most seen, consequences for children who have reported being emotional abuse. Some of these consequences include insecurities, suicidal behaviors, self-harm, distorted view of self, and impaired social development(Frederico 346).

The effects of sexual violence upon the survivors and the society are invasive and far reaching; so much so that all conventional attempts to address the issue and seek justice for victims have not only failed but have also left victims without a sense of justice and often magnified the adverse impacts of initial