Understanding Child Sexual Abuse - Research Paper Example

Understanding child sexual abuse and the long-term results of the abuse on the individual Abstract: Sexual abuse is traumatic and life changing for juveniles, it dehumanizes them and can cause severe psychological or physical problems. When juveniles are subjected to sexual abuse it can change their lives forever. The following paper will address some of the long term affects that sexual abuse can have on juveniles. The purpose of the paper is to show what long-term effects occur and the negative results of these. Understanding child sexual abuse and the long-term results of the abuse on the individual Sexual abuse is the unwanted sexually based attention of one person to another generally being committed by an acquaintance of the minor. Each state in the United States has various legal approaches and definitions for sexual abuse of a minor. Pornographic exploitation and child prostitution are all addressed as wrong and generally subcategories under child sexual abuse. Sexual abuse of a minor is generally accepted as being committed by someone that is related to or with whom the child is directly acquainted. One dictionary terms sexual abuse as, “Illegal sex acts performed against a minor by a parent, guardian, relative, or acquaintance” (Sexual Abuse, 2011). In 1974 the first major piece of Federal legislation was passed regarding child abuse, titled the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) this piece of legislation defines sexual abuse as, “the employment, use, persuasion, inducement, enticement, or coercion of any child to engage in, or assist any other person to engage in, any sexually explicit conduct or simulation of such conduct” (CAPTA, 2011). While definitions help in understanding what child sexual abuse is, unfortunately they do not address what affects sexual abuse can have. Some of the recognized long-term effects are substance abuse, psychological issues, eating disorders, relationship and commitment issues as well as the possibility of suicide and physically unsafe behavior. One report from Medicine.net states that, “Approximately 20% of offenders were themselves abused as children” (Child Abuse, 2011). The report goes on to say that additional problems may be involved as well; family relates stress as well as substance abuse. These two contributing factors, family stress and substance abuse can be results of early child sexual abuse themselves lending credence to the idea that child sexual abuse is a problem that continues in a cyclical nature through families. Substance abuse specifically can have wide-reaching effects ranging from chemically induced psychological issues to familial problems. Alcoholism can increase the potential for cancer by as much as 4% it can also be a causative factor in spousal abuse, child abuse and other violent and devastating crimes against others. Abuse of substances other than alcohol has been shown to cause heart disease and other physical problems. Further the abuse of illegal substances can induce psychotic episodes resulting in criminal action that may harm another individual. According to the Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies some of the results of alcoholism are, “Lost productivity, accidents, injuries, illnesses, property damage, violence and higher utilization of health, social and criminal justice systems contribute to this significant financial burden” (UNC School of Medicine, 2011) Psychological problems may be exacerbated by extended substance abuse as well. The victims of child sexual abuse tend to have a higher rate of psychological problems later in life as a result of their early life traumas specifically sexual abuse. Some of the ways these psychological issues may manifest is in the inability to function properly within social circles and the general withdrawal from society. Additionally survivors of child sexual abuse may have difficulty preforming adequately in academic and classroom environments. Behavioral problems are likely as well and according to studies abused children are at least 25 percent more likely to experience problems in behavioral or psychological areas later in life. (Child Information Gateway, 2008) Psychological problems can and will affect relationships and commitment issues as well. Committed relationships are important to the mental health and wellbeing of individuals, survivors of child sexual abuse are more likely to experience failed relationships and be unable to fulfill commitments which can affect family life as well as the ability of the individual to provide monetary support as a result of the inability to remain committed to work. In personal family relationships the victims of child sexual abuse may feel that they are inadequate as parental figures in their own children’s lives. Further issues that can affect relationships and can be directly linked to child sexual abuse are eating disorders. Eating disorders can have many different effects on the individual, bulimic individuals can have psychological disorders stemming from their inability to control their eating habits in a beneficial way. While over-eaters may gain large amounts of weight causing additional harm to their bodies and possibly relationships. Eating disorders are physically unsafe and can contribute to psychological and physical breakdowns for the individuals involved. One study states, “CSA is a risk factor for bulimic disorders in young females…reporting 2 or more episodes of CSA before the age of 16 years predicted a greater than 5-fold elevated cumulative risk of new bulimic syndrome during adolescence” (Sanci et al., 2008 p. 261-267). Suicide is another unfortunate end for some individuals who may believe they are completely alone and due to their inability to foster beneficial relationships are alone. Suicide is more prevalent statistically with young-adult and adult victims of child sexual-abuse. In conclusion the long-term effects of child sexual-abuse are serious and show that without therapy can end badly for the individual and their family. It stands to reason that child sexual-abuse is negative regardless of some of the arguments in favor of child-adult relationships of a sexual nature. Reduction of this serious problem should be a priority for societies around the globe as the long-term effects tend to affect more than the individual victims. It is easy to wonder how many lives could be saved or positively changed allowing society to be positively changed as well if this problem were no longer. While the facts show that victims of child sexual-abuse are more likely to have continuing problems it should be noted that each individual can potentially avoid any one or all of these issues and long term problems and as a result there is hope. Reference page: CAPTA, (2011). Title 42 > chapter 67 > subchapter vi > § 5119c, definitions, cornell university law school. Retrieved from http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode42/usc_sec_42_00005119---c000-.html Child Abuse,. (2011). Medicine.net.com, what is sexual child abuse?. Retrieved from http://www.medicinenet.com/child_abuse/page6.htm#22whatis Child Information Gateway,. (2008). Long-term consequences of child abuse and neglect. Child Welfare Information Gateway., Retrieved from http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/long_term_consequences.cfm#psych Fact Sheet,. (2009). Major federal legislation concerned with child protection, child welfare, and adoption. Retrieved from http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/otherpubs/majorfedlegis.pdf Sanci et al.,. (2008). Childhood sexual abuse and eating disorders in females findings from the victorian adolescent health cohort study . pages. 261-267 Retrieved from http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/162/3/261 Sexual Abuse,. (2011). The free dictionary, by farlax, sexual abuse. Retrieved from http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Sexual+Abuse UNC School of Medicine,. (2011). Education & prevention costs of alcohol abuse. Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Retrieved from http://www.med.unc.edu/alcohol/education/cost.html Read More