There
are an estimated 300,000+ children sexually abused each year (1).
The statistics aren't exact because of the high rate of non-reporting at the time of the crime. Children
are afraid to tell anyone what happened, and the legal procedure for validating an episode is difficult. However in the year
2000, we do know the research shows 88,000 children were documented/confirmed as having been sexually abused. Any
type of sexual abuse or incest should be identified, the abuse stopped, the abuser should be reported and prosecuted,
and the child and her/his family should receive professional help. The long-term emotional and psychological damage of
sexual abuse is devastating to the child.
Child sexual abuse can take place within the family: by a parent,
step-parent, sibling or other relative and this is called, incest. Incest between adults and prepubescent or adolescent
children is a form of child sexual abuse that has been shown to be one of the most extreme forms of childhood trauma,
a trauma that often does serious and long-term psychological damage, especially in the case of parental incest. (2) Adults who were incestuously victimized by adults in their childhood often suffer
from low self-esteem, difficulties in interpersonal relationships, and sexual dysfunction, and are at an extremely high risk
of many mental disorders, including depression, anxiety, phobic avoidance reactions (1),
somatoform disorder (2), substance abuse, borderline personality disorder(3), and complex post-traumatic stress disorder(4).
(2)(3)(4)
Sexual abuse can also be inflicted outside the home,
for example, by a friend, neighbor, child care person, teacher, or stranger. Regardless of who the perpetrator is, when sexual
abuse has occurred, all of the research shows that there can be numerous short and long term psychological effects
for the child.
No child is psychologically prepared to cope with repeated sexual stimulation. Even a two or three
year old, who cannot know the sexual activity is wrong, will develop problems resulting from the inability to cope with the
overstimulation.
The child of five or older who knows and cares for the abuser becomes trapped between affection
or loyalty for the person, and the sense that the sexual activities are terribly wrong. If the child tries to break away from
the sexual relationship, the abuser may threaten the child with violence or loss of love. When sexual abuse occurs within
the family, the child may fear the anger or shame of other family members, or be afraid the family will break up if the
secret is told.
There are many effects of childhood sexual abuse, both physical and emotional, which is why treatment
by a qualified specialist is so important. Effects of incest and sexual abuse are most likely to include:
- Nightmares
- Grief
- Inability to trust
- Attempts at suicide and self-harm
- Isolation
and alienation
- Fear of being alone
- Fear of the dark
- Acting
out behaviors
- Regression to infantile behavior
- Promiscuity
- Severe weight gain or loss
- Inappropriate sexual behavior
|
- Lack of clear childhood memories
- Anger
- Guilt
- Flashbacks
- Self-blame
- Chemical abuse
- Alcohol
abuse
- Depression
- Post traumatic stress disorder
- Fear of
touching and intimacy
- Running away
- STDs
|
There is a distinction between the terms child molester and pedophile.
A child molester is an offender who sexually assaults a child who has reached puberty. A pedophile is an offender who
sexually assaults a pre-pubescent child.
A child molester or pedophile can make the child extremely fearful
of telling, and only when a special effort has helped the child to feel safe, can the child talk freely. The abuser
may threaten the child, other family members or friends with violence to ensure silence. Or, the abuser may threaten the child with rejection and ostracism. The abuser says
that if anyone finds out, everyone will hate and reject the child for having "participated" in this. The child,
feeling violated and dirty, is likely to believe the abuser.
Guilt
and shame often play a big part in any child's decision not to ask for help after incest has occurred. If they were raised in a house where sex is considered dirty or sinful,
the child is unlikely to speak up. If the household is strict and authoritarian, the child may decide that their fear of the
authority figure outweighs the need to get help.
Finally, the child may be uncertain what to think of the experience. Every child keeps secrets from their parents,
and may wonder, "Is this like the time I smoked a cigarette and never told anyone, or like the time I broke my arm and
had to get help?" Unless they have been taught about "good touch, bad touch, confusing touch" and this applies
to strangers AND family members or friends, teachers, coaches, priests, etc., and what to do if it were to happen, they
may choose the wrong option.
If a child says that he or she has been molested, parents should try to remain calm
and reassure the child that what happened was not their fault and praise them for having the courage TO TELL. Parents
should call the authorities and seek a medical examination and psychiatric consultation.
Parents can try to prevent or lessen
the chance of sexual abuse by: - Telling children
that if someone (strangers AND family members, teachers, friends, coaches, clergy, etc.) tries to touch their body and do
things that make them feel funny, say NO to that person and tell the parent right away.
- Teaching children that respect does not mean blind obedience to adults and
to authority. For example, don't tell children to, "Always do everything the teacher or babysitter tells you
to do".
- Encouraging professional prevention programs
in the local school system.
Sexually abused children
and their families need immediate professional evaluation and treatment. Child and adolescent therapists/psychiatrists can
help abused children regain a sense of self-esteem, cope with feelings of false guilt about the abuse, and begin the process
of overcoming the trauma. Such treatment can help reduce the risk that the child will develop serious problems as an
adult.
References______________
1 Finkelhor, D., H. Hammer, and
A.J. Sedlak, Sexually assaulted children: National estimates and characteristics, in Juvenile Justice Bulletin. In press,
Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention: Washington, D.C.
2 Courtois,
Christine A. (1988). Healing the Incest Wound: Adult Survivors in Therapy. W. W. Norton & Company, p208. ISBN
0393313565.
3 Trepper, Terry
S. (1989). Systemic Treatment of Incest: A Therapeutic Handbook. Psychology Press. ISBN 0876305605.
4
Kluft, Richard P. (1990). Incest-Related Syndromes of Adult Psychopathology. American Psychiatric Pub , Inc., p83,89.
ISBN 0880461609
Terminology______________
1 Phobic Avoidance Reactions- An intense irrational
fear that often leads to avoidance of an object or situation.
2 Somatoform
Disorder- (also known as Briquet's syndrome) Is characterized by physical symptoms that mimic disease
or injury for which there is no identifiable physical cause.
3
Borderline Personality Disorder- A personality disorder characterized by extreme instability and impulsivity,
fear of abandonment and self-injurious behavior.
4 Complex
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder- A diagnosis based on symptoms of fear, terror, helplessness, avoidance of stimuli
associated with past trauma, emotional numbing, sleep problems, irritability, hypervigilance, depression, anxiety, and poor
concentration. This diagnosis is made when these symptoms follow the experience of a traumatic event.
| |
This site was designed for and is best viewed using 1440 X 900 resolution.
I apologize for how the website might appear otherwise.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
