CHILDREN AT SEXUAL VICTIMIZATION RISK
* The primary markers for increased risk for child sexual abuse for girls are having: few friends, absent or unavailable parents, a stepfather and conflict with or between parents.
* Other risk factors include: physical or mental disability; separate living arrangements from both biological parents; mental illness, alcoholic or drug abuse in the family; a parent who was physically or sexually abused as a child; homes with other forms of abuse, prostitution or transient adults.
* One study examined eight of these indicators in girls and found sexual abuse histories in 6 percent with no risk factor, 9 percent with one factor; 26 percent with two factors and 68 percent with three factors. Another study found 78 percent of sexually abused children studied had at least three risk factors.
* Gay, lesbian and bisexual youth may be at greater risk because they tend to be socially isolated and are easier targets. In one study, male sexual abuse survivors self-described as homosexual almost seven times, and as bisexual almost six times, more often than non-abused peers.
NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF CHILD SEXUAL VICTIM
* Child sexual abuse often negatively effects long-term psychological and social well-being, although more than half of all sexual abuse survivors do not suffer the most extreme forms of psychiatric trauma.
* Factors that worsen the severity include: younger age at first abuse, less developmental maturity, longer duration of abuse, occurrence of penetration, use of force, abuse by a parent-figure or much older perpetrator, lack of support upon disclosure and absence of a caring non-abusing parent.
* Psychological and behavioral effects of child sexual abuse may include low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, fear, hostility, chronic tension, eating disorders, sexual dysfunction, self-destructive or suicidal behavior, post traumatic stress disorder, dissociation, multiple personality disorder, repeat victimization, running away, criminal behavior, academic problems, substance abuse and prostitution.
* Sexual abuse survivors are at higher risk for mental health and social functioning problems resulting from feelings of powerlessness, guilt, shame, stigmatization and low self-esteem. Powerlessness damages coping skills and reduces ability to protect oneself from further abuse.
