Paper presented at the Fifth International Congress on Child Abuse and Neglect, Montreal. Google Scholar Kovitz, K. Barr, D., Brummitt, J., Handy, L. C., Leveque, P., Plowman, B., & Riese, R. (1982). [link.springer.com]

(Left) Healed transections are present at the 4- and 7-o'clock positions, and a notch is present at the 6-o'clock position. (Right) The hymen is absent as a result of chronic sexual abuse in this pubertal girl. [aafp.org]

For more information about service available through the Sexual Assault Program, or to schedule a presentation to your group, please contact a sexual assault advocate using one of the contact options listed on the left of the page. [wchkenosha.org]

In an interview with Dave Rubin on the American talk show ‘Rubin Report’ yesterday, the writer, actor, presenter, and all round national treasure Stephen Fry decided that "self pity" by survivors of child sexual abuse was an appropriate target for his [independent.co.uk]

[…] have been abused, or who have survivors in their families, know what happens when kids don’t have access to treatment: the toxic stress that accompanies sexual abuse results in multiple long-term health consequences, and a host of social problems that present [ncchild.org]

• Pain

  Physical Effects Chronic and diffuse pain, especially abdominal or pelvic pain (1), lower pain threshold (7), anxiety and depression, self-neglect, and eating disorders have been attributed to childhood sexual abuse. [acog.org]

  She experiences pain that is so intense that she cannot think; her head spins so fast she can't remember who she is or how she got there. All she knows is pain. All she feels is desperation. [goodreads.com]

  This integration will allow the survivor to process the memories and pain so that they no longer control their behaviour and responses. [secasa.com.au]

  Sexual Effects The sex lives of adult survivors of CSA are often painful, negative, or nonexistent. [soc.ucsb.edu]

  Resources Door of Hope: Recognizing and Resolving the Pains of Your Past No Place to Cry: The Hurt and Healing of Sexual Abuse The Wounded Heart: Hope for Adult Victims of Childhood Sexual Abuse On the Threshold of Hope: Opening the Door to Healing for [focusonthefamily.com]

• Disability

  In the case of an assault causing permanent physical and/or psychological disability, personal injury lawsuits filed on behalf of children must deal with the extraordinary costs that may be involved with the care of a severely injured child through maturity [attorneywilliamjtuck.com]

  Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker [cairn.info]

• Nightmare

  Sexually abused children may also 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 [aacap.org]

  They may take the form of: dissociative responses and other signs of post-traumatic stress syndrome chronic states of arousal nightmares flashbacks venereal disease anxiety over sex fear of exposing the body during medical exams ("Child Sexual Abuse: [thoughtco.com]

  Has nightmares or other sleep problems without an explanation Seems distracted or distant at odd times Has a sudden change in eating habits Refuses to eat Loses or drastically increases appetite Has trouble swallowing Sudden mood swings: rage, fear, insecurity [anxioustoddlers.com]

  Artist shares dark past Victim: I was 4 when my dad started trafficking me Warning signs of potential sexual abuse in a child : Has difficulty walking or sitting Suddenly refuses to change for gym class or participate in physical activities Reports nightmares [shreveporttimes.com]

  Symptoms of posttraumatic stress Survivors may experience intrusive or recurring thoughts of the abuse as well as nightmares or flashbacks. [acog.org]

• Asymptomatic

  Pubertal females may be asymptomatic but remain infected. Local prevalence of STDs and risk factors of the child and the alleged perpetrator of abuse should also be taken into consideration. [aafp.org]

  It is estimated that somewhere between 21-49% of child sexual abuse victims appear asymptomatic post-victimization. [aaets.org]

  Some individuals appear to be relatively asymptomatic while others can be greatly affected. [omicsonline.org]

• Enuresis

  Related Editorial Child victims of sexual abuse may present with physical findings that can include anogenital problems, enuresis or encopresis. [aafp.org]

• Choking

  I am also a black woman who was a black girl trying to navigate what survival—in the sense of continued existence—meant at 6 years old and at 9 years old and at 12 years old in a community steeped in silence and choking on its own complicity. [theroot.com]

• Abdominal Pain

  Children may present with somatic complaints such as recurrent abdominal pain or frequent headaches resulting from the psychologic stress. [aafp.org]

• Vomiting

  Mercado, Martínez-Taboas, and Pedrosa (2008) found that females with a history of CSA scored significantly higher on a measure of dysfunctional eating-related cognitions, such as bulimia nervosa, and the related behaviors of bingeing and self-induced vomiting [steinhardt.nyu.edu]

• Anger

  Anger Some adult survivors report problems with anger. It may be anger against a particular person, fate, or a higher power. [wgac.colostate.edu]

  Survivors may feel anger at the abuser, at adults who failed to protect them, and at themselves for not having been able to stop the abuse (page 1). [victimsofcrime.org]

  I am angry about what was done to me but recognize that my anger is not a constant part of my feelings. It intrudes into other parts of my life in a negative way. I can talk about the assault experience with a counselor or a therapist. [healthyplace.com]

  In their children, parents identified improved mood, confidence and being less withdrawn, a reduction in guilt and self-blame, reduced depression, anxiety and anger, improved sleep patterns and better understanding of appropriate sexual behaviour. [sciencedaily.com]

  Some adults experience guilt because they believe that they deserved the abuse they experienced.2 Many survivors (typically men) display anger and rage in adulthood as a way of coping with the intense trauma. [soc.ucsb.edu]

• Low Self-Esteem

  Self-esteem. You may struggle with low self-esteem, which can be a result of the negative messages you received from your abuser(s), and from having your personal safety violated or ignored. [rainn.org]

  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 ( page 1 ). [victimsofcrime.org]

  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. [aacap.org]

  They can include: chronic depression low self-esteem sexual dysfunction multiple personalities According to the American Medical Association, 20% of all victims develop serious long-term psychological problems. [thoughtco.com]

  In cases of CSA, trauma and stress may permanently change the connections in the brain, resulting in emotional behaviors unique to survivors of sexual abuse. 5 These negative emotions include (but are not limited to) grief, guilt, anger, and low self-esteem [soc.ucsb.edu]

• Behavior Disorder

  Other frequently occurring symptoms include promiscuity (38%), general behavior problems (30%), poor self-esteem (35%), and disruptive behavior disorders (23%). [aaets.org]

  These disordered cognitions and related behaviors are symptomatic of a traumatic loss of control and agency. The Interpersonal Context of Child Sexual Abuse Interpersonal relationships. [steinhardt.nyu.edu]

• Confusion

  Advocates may experience some confusion about how to provide best practice advocacy to young people who have been sexually assaulted. [wcsap.org]

  As a secondary victim, you are not doubt filled with frustrating and confusing emotions, and you are not alone. You are not at fault. The child you love is hurting. [cmsac.org]

  Child sexual abuse can lead to antisocial behavior, depression, identity confusion, loss of self-esteem and other serious emotional problems. 73% of child victims do not tell anyone about the abuse for at least a year. 45% of victims do not tell anyone [preventchildabusenc.org]

  They feel fear, confusion and sometimes anger. Both genders are at higher risk for psychiatric conditions including anxiety and depression later in life. And both genders face stigma if they chose to report their abuse. [livescience.com]

• Irritability

  Sexual acting-out behavior is the most specific indicator of possible sexual abuse. 5 Medical problems include anogenital trauma, bleeding, irritation or discharge, dysuria, frequent urinary tract infections, encopresis, enuresis (especially after continence [aafp.org]

  Hence, the victim might experience irritability when he or she does not know how to cope with the confusion or possess the ability to talk about the abuse to others. Children do not have the same resources as adults. [omicsonline.org]

• Hyperactivity

  Other behavioral problems associated with sexual abuse include: Aggression Running away Self-harm (cutting or burning) Criminal activity Substance abuse Suicidal behavior Hyperactivity Sleeping/eating problems Toileting problems Behavioral reactions to [healthyplace.com]

  Those who suffer from PTSD are often psychologically hyperactively responsive to changes in their surroundings and environment, making them prone to disorders like depression and anxiety. [soc.ucsb.edu]

• Headache

  These physical effects include, but are not limited to the following: Gastrointestinal and digestive distress Chronic headaches/backaches Musculoskeletal distress Asthma and other respiratory ailments3 Physical symptoms of CSA are often misdiagnosed as [soc.ucsb.edu]

  Children may present with somatic complaints such as recurrent abdominal pain or frequent headaches resulting from the psychologic stress. [aafp.org]

• Tantrums

  […] child shows the following warning signs, there may be cause for concern: Torn or stained underwear Frequent urinary or yeast infections Nightmares and anxiety around bedtime Bedwetting past the appropriate age Preoccupation with one’s body Anger and tantrums [goodtherapy.org]

We know the consequences of untreated trauma and we know the positive impact of early access to treatment. [ncchild.org]

A comprehensive child sexual abuse treatment programs. Child Abuse and Neglect, 6, 263–278). Google Scholar Gomes-Schwartz, B., Horowitz, J., & Sauzier, M. (1985). [link.springer.com]

Both of these studies exhibit the practicality of using manual-based treatments and conducting treatment outcome research with children who have experienced trauma. [omicsonline.org]

Sexual offender treatment efficacy revisited. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 11 (2), 101-116. Briere, J., Berliner, L., Bulkley, J.A., Jenny, C., & Reid, T., (1996). The APSAC Handbook on Child Maltreatment. [aaets.org]

Etiological correlates of vaginismus: sexual and physical abuse, sexual knowledge, sexual self-schema, and relationship adjustment. J Sex Marital Ther 2003;29:47-59. Baram DA, Basson R. Sexuality, sexual dysfunction, and sexual assault. [acog.org]

This evidence comes from community and clinical samples, as well as epidemiological record-matching studies and several prospective longitudinal studies in various countries. [aifs.gov.au]

In the past, child sexual abuse prevention programs commonly used this phrasing. [rapevictimadvocates.org]

Sexual Violence Prevention: Beginning the Dialogue is a resource from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [acf.hhs.gov]

What can you do to prevent child sexual abuse? Get involved with community-based prevention efforts. Seek more information about how to prevent abuse and keep children safe. Protect your own children. Support child abuse victims. [preventchildabusenc.org]

Prevention Prevention of child sexual abuse occurs on three levels: primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. Primary prevention targets services to the general population in order to decrease the frequency and occurrence of child sexual abuse. [aaets.org]

It also publishes materials for the prevention and treatment of sexual abuse. [naasca.org]