Long Term Effects of Childhood Sexual Abuse

Academic Search Premier. Web. 6 Dec. 2013. Sullivan, Tami P., et al. "Differential Relationships Of Childhood Abuse And Neglect Subtypes To PTSD Symptom Clusters Among Adolescent Inpatients."

American Psychologist, 66(2), 120-128. Springer, C., & Misurell, J. (2010). Game-based cognitive-behavioral therapy (gb-cbt): An innovative group treatment program for children who have been sexually abused. Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma, 3, 163-180.

There is a high likelihood that children who have been subjected to violence at home multiple times will experience PSTD (post traumatic stress disorder) (Margolin, 445). Studies show that domestic violence actually happens at high rates and is generally distinguished as one of the most frequent and severe unfavorable events during childhood (Margolin, 613). A study in 2006 showed that approximately 30% of children with two parents suffer from domestic violence (Charles, 138). Children who are victims or witnesses of domestic violence suffer intensive psychological damage if professional care is not provided as soon as possible. An article by the ... ... middle of paper ... ...142.

There is emotional abuse or neglect which is when a person puts down a child or fails to give adequate love and attention. And lastly there is sexual abuse which is ‘any unwanted inappropriate sexual contact’ done to a child, by a parent, guardian, relative, or other individual (Types of Child Abuse). Not one type of abuse is worse than the other, and they all can hurt a child emotionally and physically. Child abuse is not just beatings and bruises, it can have long lasting effects on children’s lives; children who have been abused can experience physiological issues, health problems, and relationship problems later in life. Children can experience many different psychological issues after being abused.

As many as one in three females have experienced sexual abuse by the age of 18 (Russell, 1986). Many survivors of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) experience negative psychological symptoms (Browne & Finkelhor, 1986; Kendall-Tackett, Williams, L. M., & Finkelhor, 1993). These women may later in life engage in relationships. The negative impact of sexual abuse could result in challenges faced by the relationship due to shame and difficulty with trust (Kochka & Carolan, 2002; MacIntosh & Johnson, 2008). CSA may also result in sexual challenges for the couple (Kochka & Carolan, 2002).

A middle-aged adult who is feeling depressed will probably not relate it back to his childhood, but maybe he should. The short-term effects of childhood sexual abuse have been proven valid, but now the question is, do the long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse affect middle-aged adults? Many contradicting views arise from the subject of childhood sexual abuse. Researchers and psychologists argue on this issue. Childhood sexual abuse has the potential to damage a child physically, emotionally, and behaviorally for the rest of his or her childhood, and the effects have been connected to lasting into middle-aged adulthood.

Child & Adolescent Social Work Journal, 10(4), 319-328. doi:10.1007/BF00758262 Phasha, T. (2008). The link between the emotional consequences of child sexual abuse and school experiences. Sex Education, 8(4), 465-480. doi:10.1080/14681810802433994 Schilling, E., Aseltine, R., & Gore, S. (2007). Young Women’s Social and Occupational Development and Mental Health in the Aftermath of Child Sexual Abuse. American Journal Of Community Psychology, 40(1/2), 109-124. doi:10.1007/s10464-007-9130-3 Walker, E., Holman, T., & Busby, D. (2009).

Everyday there are children being abused by someone who is supposed to protect them. An estimated 905,000 children were victims of child abuse or neglect in 2006(Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2008). In 1996, more than three million victims of suspected abuse were reported to child protective services agencies in the United States (Baker, 2002). The numbers have changed and still many cases of abuse go unreported. The number of incidences of child abuse rises when the family is under stress, such as being in our economy.

Child Abuse: An Imperfect World A major American society issue is child abuse and it just keeps increasing with each new generation. We need to always be on the lookout for signs and symptoms of child abuse and report it to proper authorities. “Approximately five children die every day because of child abuse” (Ho, Gross, & Bettencourt, 2017). “One out of three girls and one out of five boys will be sexually abused before they reach age 18” (Gosselin, 2014). And, 90% of child sexual abuse victims know the perpetrator such as a family member” (Ho, Gross, & Bettencourt, 2017).

24 Nov. 2013. Saewyc, Elizabeth M., Lara Leanne Magee, and Sandra E. Pettingell. “Teenage Pregnancy and Associated Risk Behaviors among Sexually Abused Adolescents.” Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health. 36.3 (2004): 98-105. ProQuest.