Causality and Primary Symptoms of Child Sexual Abuse - Assignment Example

Child Sexual Abuse No: Child Sexual Abuse I. of the issue, including definitions, causality, primary symptoms Child sexual abuse is a legal offense that can be defined as “the sexual use of a child by an adult for his or her own sexual gratification without consideration of the child’s psychosexual development” (Mrazek & Kempe, 2014, p. 12). It can also be defined descriptively as “any act or acts involving sexual molestation or exploitation, including but not limited to incest or rape, or any sexual offense in any degree, sodomy, or unnatural or perverted sexual practice on a child by any parent, adoptive parent, or any other person who has permanent or temporary custody or responsibility of supervising a minor child” (Mrazek & Kempe, 2014, p. 60). The child sexual abuse can be easily understood as a sexual offense against a child in which, the child is coerced to have some sexual contact with an adult. The child who undergoes sexual abuse goes through many disturbing and depressing phases that affect his or her personality negatively. The sufferers of sexual abuse can commit suicide or can continue to live with shame and guilt. Different people have different feelings and understanding of the happening. The symptoms of child sexual abuse as displayed by the victims are appearance of depressiveness, suicidal ideation, troubled sleep patterns, troubled eating behaviors, frustration with physical appearance, feeling of dirty outlook, pelvic aching, gastrointestinal issues, traumatized appearance of the individual, amnesia, trouble in creating interpersonal relationships, fear of intimacy, and so on (Hall & Hall, 2011). Mrazek & Kempe (2014) describe about symptoms of child sexual abuse that can be ‘bruises and abrasions’, ‘sleep disturbance’, ‘excessive masturbation’, ‘phobic states’, ‘depression’, ‘running away from home’, ‘homicidal rage’ towards the victimizer, and many other issues regarding development and social settlement (p. 14). The symptoms involved in child sexual abuse are really disturbing and depressing for the individual and his or her family. Overall, it can be said that child sexual assault and abuse is an offense that disturbs the life and development of a child and also affects his or her family negatively. II. Impact on the individual, family, community The victims of sexual abuse undergo psychological, physical, social and developmental problems in their lives. The child who is sexually abused suffers through a number of issues, but the case of every victim is different. The victims may experience the feelings of shame, guilt or self-blaming. This self-blaming and guilt may lead to suicidal feelings and ideas of self-destruction that can be damaging for the individual, his family as well as the society at large. The victims also appear stressed out and depressed most of the time because of the criminal happening. They also regard themselves at stake and unprotected. These feelings of insecurity and lack of trust on people also lead people to having problems in developing interpersonal relationships later in life. The victims face issues of lack of confidence, fear of intimacy and lack of trust on anyone that can create issues in their development and growth socially and communally (Hall & Hall, 2011). The individuals who have gone through sexual abuse as a child may develop delinquent behavior and can be motivated to the usage of different substances such as alcohol and drugs. They can become members of gangs for further offensive acts. If the perpetrator of sexual offense is some family member, the victimized youth can run away from home and lead a homeless life away from their families and friends. They can have issues of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) that are behavioral and psychological disorders in a person’s personality. The sexual assault can be understood as a traumatic happening in their lives that results in feelings of guilt and continued depression leading to PTSD. The child sexual abuse can result in risky sexual behaviors that can eventually lead to destructive diseases transmitted easily such as HIV and AIDS. The sexually abused child can show emotional as well as behavioral issues such as facing more depression, having elevated anger, feeling more isolated, considering lower self-esteem, more prone to delinquency, and many mental health issues (Tyler, 2002). The families of the victims of child sexual abuse are affected negatively because of such a happening. The critics have found out that the sexually abused children are mostly found in families who show neglect towards their children or who put their children in more risky situations. Therefore, the caretakers and parents of child are responsible for the safety of a child (Tyler, 2002). When a child gets sexually abused, he requires familial care and love to cope up with his problems. The abuse not only haunts the individual, but also his family. They also face depression, stress and isolation. They also undergo feelings of guilt and self-blame like their children. Therefore, the suffering of individual cannot be wholly separated from that of the family, as they are equally the sufferers of the tragic happening (Mrazek & Kempe, 2014). III. Common intervention methods Common intervention methods for handling a case of child sexual abuse deal with the child protection system. The intervention provided can be voluntary as well as involuntary. Voluntary intervention is that in which, the child and his parents agree to solve the issue with the help of a social worker and they try to provide a group therapy leading assist the child in dealing with the traumatic happening. Involuntary intervention is that, which is forced by Juvenile court, but the parents are not ready to help the social worker in dealing with the child. These interventions are the treatment plans that are there for the remedy of the affected children (Mrazek & Kempe, 2014). In the lieu of intervention, the victims are also assisted through counseling so that they can feel safe and the level of their anxiety and depression can get lessened. Through counseling, the victims can heal and feel empowered (Hall & Hall, 2011). IV. What would be the most effective type of interventions used to change this issue and bring safety and relief to the child involved in this issue in his/her life. The most effective type of intervention that is used for bringing safety and relief to the child is proper counseling and group therapy. Counseling targeting not only the individual, but the whole family of the victim is much more advantageous because such a happening distresses all the family members. As the child is much closer to his family, he has better chances of healing and feeling secure with his family. References Hall, M., & Hall, J. (2011). The long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse: Counseling implications. Retrieved from http://counselingoutfitters.com/vistas/vistas11/Article_19.pdf Mrazek, P. B., & Kempe, C. H. (Eds.). (2014). Sexually Abused Children & Their Families. Elsevier. Tyler, K. A. (2002). Social and emotional outcomes of childhood sexual abuse: A review of recent research. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 7(6), 567-589. Read More