- Mental and Physcial Health Impact of Child Sexual Abuse on Victims

Sexual assault in childhood or adulthood impacts not only the victim, but also the victim’s family and friends as well as society as a whole. In this regard, sexual assault is a public health problem that concerns everyone.

Sexual assault has numerous potential consequences that can last a lifetime and span generations, with serious adverse effects on health, education, employment, crime, and the economic well-being of individuals, families, communities and societies

There does not appear to be a specific pattern of consequences from sexual abuse experienced in childhood. In fact, the sequelae, or after-effects, of childhood sexual abuse vary from one child to the next.

Victims of child sexual abuse can face immediate psychological consequences as well as chronic effects that can impact their adjustment throughout their development.


Immediate psychological consequences of child sexual abuse include: Shock, Fear, Anxiety, nervousness, Guilt, Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, Denial, Confusion, Withdrawal, isolation and Grief

Physical Health issues such as-

i)Sexually transmitted diseases,

ii) Pregnancy,

iii) Complaints of pain or itching in the genital area,

iv) Difficulty in walking or sitting,

v) Repeated unusual injuries,

vi) Pain during elimination, and

vii) Frequent yeast infections


Sexual abuse in childhood is known to be a major risk factor in the development of long-term psychological and social adjustment problems that can carry over into adulthood and affect married life and parenthood.

The most common effects of sexual abuse in children are symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, psychological distress and inappropriate sexual behaviour.

Roughly one third of sexually abused children do not display symptoms deemed problematic (i.e. symptoms that have reached the clinical threshold). There may be various reasons for this, including:

- These children experienced less severe sexual abuse.
- These children have protective factors that help them cope better with the trauma of the abuse.
- These children may exhibit no symptoms during assessment, but have latent sequelae that might manifest later.
- Depending on their age, victims of child sexual abuse are also at greater risk of experiencing symptoms of physical and mental health issues.

i) Abrupt changes in behaviour such as self harm, talks of suicide or attempt to suicide,
poor impulse control etc.

ii) Reluctance to go home.

iii) Sexualised behaviour or acting out sexually.

iv) Low self-esteem.

v) Wearing many layers of clothing regardless of the weather.

vi) Recurrent nightmares or disturbed sleep patterns and fear of the dark.

vii) Regression to more infantile behaviour like bed-wetting, thumb-sucking or excessive
crying.

viii)Poor peer relationships.

ix) Eating disturbances.

x) Negative coping skills, such as substance abuse and/or self-harm.

xi) An increase in irritability or temper tantrums.

xii) Fears of a particular person or object.

xiii)Aggression towards others.

xiv)Poor school performance.

xv) Knowing more about sexual behaviour than is expected of a child of that age



If childhood sexual abuse is not treated, long-term symptoms can go on through adulthood.
These may include:

i) PTSD and anxiety

ii) Depression and thoughts of suicide

iii) Sexual anxiety and disorders, including having too many or unsafe sexual partners

iv) Difficulty setting safe limits with others (e.g., saying no to people) and relationship
problems

v) Poor body image and low self-esteem

vi) Unhealthy behaviours, such as alcohol, drugs, self-harm, or eating problems. These
behaviours are often used to try to hide painful emotions related to the abuse

vii)Issues in maintaining relationships


The counsellor should be aware that the effects of child sexual abuse are long-term and can
change the world view and the course of life of the child. The first step in the healing process is
for the child to talk about the abuse, and it is the counsellor‟s duty to facilitate this; however, the
process of recovery may be long and the child will have other needs that the counsellor can
attend to. This includes

i) Rapport Building,
ii) working on the feelings of the child,
iii) Psychological Education on safe and unsafe touches, feelings, thoughts and behaviour,
safer coping techniques
iv) Helping the child to understand the abuse was not their fault;
v) Helping the child to develop of or regain their self-confidence;
vi) Provide sex education;
vii) Encourage appropriate social behaviour;
viii)Help the child to identify people who can form a supportive social environment around
him or her.

The counsellor is therefore a very important tool for the child in rebuilding his or her life after
he has been sexually abused.

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