Sexual abuse in children is a serious problem in the United States. Due to difficulty victims have in reporting cases, hard data on sexual abuse is hard to come by. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, an estimated 702,000 children suffered from abuse in 2009. Of these children, about 10 percent were sexually abused. Sexual abuse is damaging to a child’s growth and psychological development. Both boys and girls are victims of sexual abuse and it occurs across all cultural, racial and economic groups.
Symptoms of Sexual Abuse
The symptoms of sexual abuse are wide and varied. Commonly, children show sudden changes in their behavior, both in school and at home, following the incident. Affected children may have other co-existing medical problems that have not been addressed by the child’s parents. Children with sexual abuse may prefer staying out of the house: they may come to school early and prefer to stay late. Their personalities may be excessively compliant or withdrawn; they may also always be in a state of alert. Children who have been sexually abused may try to make themselves appear sexually unattractive or may be inappropriately seductive. They may have an abnormal sexual knowledge.
Signs of Sexual Abuse
Parents, teachers and pediatricians should be aware of the signs of sexual abuse. Pregnancy, of course, is a clear sign of sexual activity, but it may or may not be due to abuse. Sexually transmitted diseases, genital bruising or bleeding, frequent urinary tract infections and persistently sore throats in children are other possible red flags that may alert adults to the problem.
Adult Complications
Individuals who have been sexually abused as children are at high risk for various psychiatric complications as they reach adulthood. These individuals may have sexual dysfunction, dissociative states, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, repeated self-injury or suicidal ideation. They have issues with addiction, stealing, lying or running away. Because of the frequency of complications in adult life, children should receive adequate therapy and counseling following abuse.
Treatment of Sexual Abuse
Treating children with sexual abuse is done on a case-by-case basis. If children were sexually abused by a parent, then finding a foster home or alternative living arrangement may be necessary; in other arrangements, the offender may be required to leave. It is worth noting that sexual abuse against minors is a crime that is punished by significant amounts of jail time. Therapies which may be successful for children include group therapy, individual treatment and family therapy. Treatment plans involving multiple approaches are often the most successful.
References
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; ACF Questions and Answers Support; August 2011
- Carol Boulware, MFT, Ph.D.: Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect: Signs and Symptoms; 2007
- Survivors and Friends: Possible Signs of Sexual Abuse
- American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress: Adult Manifestations of Childhood Sexual Abuse
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