Sexual Abuse and Young Children Essay example - 1740 Words

As reported in Child Maltreatment 2013, out of the estimated 905,000 victims of child abuse and neglect reported in the United States in 2013, 8.8% were victims of sexual abuse. 1 This means that in that year over 79,600 children were sexually abused in the United States. â€Å"There is general agreement among mental health and child protection professionals that child sexual abuse is not uncommon and is a serious problem in the United States.† 2 Sexual abuse has a very broad definition. According to the American Psychological Association, â€Å"a central characteristic†¦is the dominant position of an adult that allows him or her to force or coerce a child into sexual activity.† 3 The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act defines sexual abuse†¦show more content†¦11 But often more severe are the effects of sexual abuse on a child’s psychological development. Sexual abuse produces â€Å"powerful and enduring emotion reactions, including intense shame, anger, and humiliation,† 12 depression, anxiety, withdrawal, guilt, and fear.13 Behavioral differences may be seen in sexually abused children, including sexual interest and acting out, â€Å"regressive behaviors†¦, sleep disturbances, eating problems, behavior and/or performance problems at school, and nonparticipation in school and social activities.†14 Many sexually abused children develop posttraumatic stress disorder. 15 It is important to remember that of the many possible effects of sexual abuse, â€Å"there is no one set of symptoms or outcomes that victims experience,† and there are several factors which â€Å"affect the amount of harm done to the victim.† 16 Whether the child discloses the abuse, and when s/he does, greatly affect the consequences.17 An estimate of 30% and 80% of sexual abuse victims do not purposefully disclose until adulthood, children under age 6 being the least likely to disclose.18, 19 Children may not disclose sexual abuse due to feelings of shame, self-blame for the abuse, or for fear of negativeShow MoreRelatedEffects Of The Abuse On Young Adults1694 Words   |  7 PagesChild abuse is an all too common practice in the United States with over six million children affected every year (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014). In 2012, 82.2% of child abuse perpetrators were found to be between the ages of 18-44, of which 39.6% were recorded to be between the ages of 25-34 (11 facts about child abuse, 2015). Child abuse is a real problem in this world. Child sex abuse includes body contact, such as kissing and oral, anal, or vaginal sex. Sex abuse can alsoRead MoreThe Abuse too Many Children Face1553 Wor ds   |  6 PagesChild abuse is a terrifying thing to think about, let alone discuss. Many children face abuse and do not know how to get help. In some countries other than the United States child abuse is more widely accepted or overlooked. Many people know the signs of a child who is abused, but a lot of people will not say anything. The biggest thing that people need to realize is that is they would speak up against child abuse they could then potentially save children from further abuse and create a better lifeRead MoreChild Sexual Abuse And Children1301 Words   |  6 PagesChild sexual abuse effects tens of thousands of children, and young teens every year. With the rate of this issues, parents and other adults are not prepared nor willing to deal with problems of their children or family members been sexual abused. Child sexual abuse can take many forms, but it’s always a violation of a young person’s rights, and it increases the risk of many adverse physical and mental health conditions. Furthermore, child sexual abuse is defined as direct genital contact and indirectRead MorePhysical Misuse Of A Kid863 Words   |  4 PagesI chose this topic because my Granddaughter experienced sexual abuse from her mother’s boyfriend and my Grandson experienced physical abuse from his mother. Their current ages are under 4 years of age. As a parent and grandmother, it tore my heart apart and I wanted to certainly cause harm to somebody. As a result, I have custody of my grandson and my granddaughter lives with her other grandmother. All through the United States each year, a large number of instances of child negligence are accountedRead MorePersuasive Essay On Sex Education1532 Words   |  7 Pagesparts of the body, including the genitals, to a toddler or preschooler, sex education has begun (New York Times).† Although some argue they are too young; sex and drug education should be taught to every student in elementary schools across the nation. Prevention is key; education can teach these children valuable lessons that may save their life. Drug abuse in this country has reached an all new high with some of the most dangerous drugs we have ever encountered, and the ages of these drug addicts areRead MoreExplain The Importance Of Safeguarding The Welfare Of Children And Young People1229 Words   |  5 Pageswork with, or come into contact with children should have safeguarding policies and procedures to ensure that every child, regardless of their age, gender, religion or ethnicity, can be protected fro m harm. This includes hospitals, schools, private sector providers, sports clubs, faith groups and voluntary/community organisations. Safeguarding the welfare of children and young people is extremely important. It involves more than just protecting children from abuse – it also includes promoting theirRead MoreHistory Of Police Investigations Into The Crimes Of Jimmy Savile And Other Prominent Figures Have Brought Child Sexual Exploitation1039 Words   |  5 Pagescrimes of Jimmy Savile and other prominent figures have brought child sexual abuse and exploitation to public attention. But while police tackle the problem, child sexual exploitation continues to happen every day. It s important to understand what child sexual exploitation is and to be aware of warning signs that may indicate a child you know is being exploited. What is child sexual exploitation? Before explaining child sexual exploitation, it is helpful to understand what is meant by the age ofRead MoreChild Sexual Exploitation : Children And Young People1606 Words   |  7 Pages All children and young people are potentially at risk of being sexually exploited. Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is a form of child sexual abuse where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18 into sexual activity (a) in exchange for something the victim needs or wants, and/or (b) for the financial advantage or increased status of the perpetrator or facilitator (New England definition 2017). TheRead MoreChild Sexual Abuse Within Institutions757 Words   |  4 Pageswith the issue of child sexual abuse. It is both a public health problem and a children’s rights issue. Child sexual abuse refers to any act by a person using their authority or power over a child or young person to engage them in any form of sexual activity (DEECD and DHS, 2010). Victims of sexual abuse suffer serious psychological and physical consequences. This paper discusses the factors which facilitate or prev ent the identification and reporting of child sexual abuse within institutions. TheRead MoreUnderstanding Safeguarding of Children and Young People1004 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿516 1.1) The policies, procedures and practices for safe working with children and young people all stem from the murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman by Ian Huntley. From this horrific act of evil the Safeguarding Vulnerable Group Act 2006 was born (see evidence ‘6’ – 520 1.3). Another public enquiry was set up to address the failure of the law after the death of Victoria Climbià ©. Within this enquiry, Lord Laming called for changes to be made in child protection policies. From this there