A mayor, a karate instructor, a former cop, an award-winning journalist and a pastor. All five of these individuals in positions of authority or trust made headlines within the past year in connection with childhood sexual abuse.
Beyond the headlines and whatever punishments are meted out, each heinous case is alleged to involve a child who endured unjustifiable suffering and is left with the burden of carrying the weight of this trauma.
As a child clinical psychologist who regularly provides therapy for survivors of childhood sexual abuse, I can attest that traveling the uphill path to healing from such experiences is arduous – but it is possible.
How many children endure sexual abuse?
Child sexual abuse is sadly a common occurrence. About 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 20 boys in the United States are subjected to child sexual abuse – maltreatment of a child involving molestation, rape, prostitution, pornography and any sexual contact without consent.
According to the most recent federal data, approximately 60,000 children were confirmed victims of sexual abuse in 2021.
However, true rates of child sexual abuse are unknown, as only 10% of cases are reported to law enforcement. An estimated 60% to 70% of adults who were sexually abused as children kept it a secret throughout their childhood.
Who are the perpetrators?
The majority of child sexual abuse perpetrators – 93% – are someone the child knows. Thirty-four percent of perpetrators are family members, and only 7% are strangers.
Father figures and male family members are the abusers in more than a quarter of child sexual abuse cases.
Evidence points to younger children being more likely to be abused sexually by a family member than by an acquantance. Around 49% of sexual abuse cases against children under 5 were committed by a relative, versus about 24% for children aged 12 to 17.
In such cases, children are particularly vulnerable to coercion and secrecy. This can lead to greater likelihood of the child sexual abuse going unreported due to fear, guilt or shame, and concern about getting into trouble.
How have the internet and social media changed things?
As more children have access to various online platforms, they may become even more susceptible to unwanted sexual conversation, grooming and online sexual abuse. Teenagers, rather than younger children, are at greatest risk for encountering a sexual perpetrator online.
A recent study found that 1 in 15 teens are exposed to unwanted sexual material online, while 1 in 9 are exposed to sexual conversation by adults or peers. Approximately 8.5% of adults who were sexually abused during childhood reported meeting a perpetrator online, via social media or other online apps.
Since the dangers that youth face online mirror dangers in real world settings, teaching internet safety skills in the context of sexual abuse and bullying education is encouraged by researchers.
What’s different for extremely young victims?
Research suggests that about 30% of child sexual abuse cases involve children age 4-7.
Preschool-age children who were sexually abused reported more depressive symptoms than preschool-age children who were not abused. Moreover, younger age of abuse predicts worse future mental health problems, including anxiety, depression and behavioral difficulties.
Due to their limited understanding and knowledge, young children are at a significant risk for being “groomed,” especially by those in positions of trust, and may be less likely to disclose abuse.
Developmental problems are also a cause for concern if abuse occurs during the 0 to 5 age range – the most pivotal time for brain development. Compared to adolescents, younger children are more likely to display physical trauma-related symptoms, such as sexualized behaviors, wetting accidents and other developmental delays, following abuse.
Despite their age, younger children benefit from learning about sexual behaviors, boundaries and private parts. They make the most progress in trauma therapy with caregiver participation.