We Are Adult Survivors of Child Abuse and Neglect

Children who have been sexually victimized usually report some type of intrapersonal disturbance. A victimized child feels he/she is unable to protect him/herself, is vulnerable to invasion from others, and feels different from others which many times leads to a sense of isolation, and often develops  a sense of low self-esteem. If the abuse is from within the family, he/she feels a sense of betrayal.

After experiencing such a traumatic violation of self, many victims of sexual abuse do not trust their own decision-making abilities regarding dangerous sexual situations and work to avoid being revictimized, not knowing that they actually are at an increased risk of being revictimized.

Many children, both male and female, have injuries in the genital area as a result of their abuse (e.g., vaginal or anal laceration or tear or acquisition of a sexually transmitted disease) that requires medical attention.

A large number of children also develop some type of somatic (physical) or psychophysiological (mental and physical) problem that may be related to their abuse such as sleep disturbances, nightmares, or bedwetting.  Many abuse victims exhibit symptoms such as dissociation, nervousness, anxiety, and flashbacks commonly associated with PTSD (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder).

A consistent finding in research describing consequences of child sexual abuse is the increase in sexualized behavior in children or sexual problems (e.g., masturbating too much, masturbating in public, talking about sex too much, etc.).  Other problems involve sexual acting out, an exaggerated interest in sexuality, and an increased interest in sexual material.

Some victim responses such as patterns of denial and minimalization, power and control behaviors, irrational thinking, irresponsible decision making, retaliation fantasies, deviant sexual arousal, aggression, secrecy, and preoccupation with or reenactment of one’s own victimization may influence a child’s development from being a victim to being a victimizer.

It is important to note that although sex offenders may possess a relatively high prevalence of child sexual abuse, that does not mean that every child who has been sexually abused will become a sex offender. Making such an assertion fails to account for the fact that most victimized children have no later sexual interest in children or that there are sexual offenders without a history of having been sexually abused as children.

Another important risk factor for child sexual abuse is parental absence and/or unavailability. Characteristics such as parental separation or divorce, a father/mother in the military who is absent a lot, and a disabled or ill parent may increase the risk of sexual victimization.

My next blog will discuss child neglect.