What is the impact of child sexual abuse (CSA) on survivors?
Sexual abuse can have many effects on a child, lasting even into adulthood. Every child is different, and children can be very strong and resilient. The impacts aren't always the same for every child sexual abuse (CSA) survivor, and not every child or teen who experiences sexual harm will demonstrate any or all of these impacts. Therapy and ongoing support from caregivers can be crucial in their healing process. However, many children still face challenges after experiencing sexual abuse.
Mental health impacts of CSA on survivors
Research shows that survivors of child sexual abuse are at a higher risk for anxiety, depression, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), borderline personality disorder, and substance misuse [5, 8]. Child sexual abuse has also been linked to eating disorders, sleep problems [1], low self-esteem, lack of confidence, self-harm, and suicide [4]. Children who experienced sexual abuse may also have a lower outlook on life [9].
The frequency and type of sexual abuse may have an impact on mental health issues on survivors of child sexual abuse [8].
Physical Health Impacts of CSA on survivors
Adults who experienced child sexual abuse often have more health problems, like digestive issues, gynecological pain, over all pain conditions like Fibromyalgia, heart issues, and obesity [6].
Relational impacts of CSA on survivors
Adults who were sexually abused as children often struggle with unstable relationships, trust issues, intimacy problems, and sexual difficulties [10]. Nearly half of child sexual abuse survivors are at a higher risk of being abused again later in life [11].
Social impacts of CSA on survivors
Child sexual abuse survivors are more likely to engage in delinquency and crime [2]. They also have higher rates of sexually problematic or harmful behavior in adolescence [3].
Educational and Economic impacts of CSA on survivors
Children who experienced sexual abuse are at risk with their academic performance as well; either struggling more in school and with poorer academic outcomes [9], or overachieving and striving for perfection [13]. Those who struggle with school success can in turn lead to earn a lower income [12], while those who push themselves to achieve beyond standards, often fail to receive necessary support services. The economic impact of child sexual abuse is huge, with a lifetime cost estimated at $9.3 billion. This includes healthcare costs, productivity losses, child welfare, special education, and suicide deaths [7].
Given these wide-ranging and long-term impacts, it’s important to work towards preventing child sexual abuse.
Learn More
- Is child sexual abuse really such a big problem?
- Warning Signs of Possible Sexual Abuse in a Child’s Behavior
References
[1] Chen, L. P., Murad, H. M., Paras, M. L., Colbenson, K. M., Sattler, A. L., Goranson, E. N., Elamin, M. B., Seime, R. J., Shinozaki, G., Prokop, L. J., & Zirakzadeh, A. A. (2010). Sexual Abuse and Lifetime Diagnosis of Psychiatric Disorders: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 85(7), 618–629. https://doi.org/10.4065/mcp.2009.0583
[2] Darkness to light (2024). Whether you realize it or not, child sexual abuse affects all of us. Retrieved form https://www.d2l.org/child-sexual-abuse/impact/#:~:text=The%20health%20and%20social%20impacts,costing%20the%20U.S.%20billions%20annually.
[3] Dillard, R., & Beaujolais, B. (2019). Trauma and adolescents who engage in sexually abusive behavior: A review of the literature. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse: Research, Treatment, & Program Innovations for Victims, Survivors, & Offenders, 28(6), 629–648. https://doi.org/10.1080/10538712.2019.1598528
[4] Fisher, C., Goldsmith, A., Hurcombe, R., & Soares, C. (2017). The impacts of child sexual abuse: A rapid evidence assessment. Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse. https://uobrep.openrepository.com/bitstream/handle/10547/624859/iicsa-impacts-child-sexual-abuse-rapid-evidence-assessment-full-report-english.pdf?sequence=2&isAllowed=y
[5] Hailes, H. P., Yu, R., Danese, A., & Fazel, S. (2019). Long-term outcomes of childhood sexual abuse: an umbrella review. The Lancet Psychiatry, 6(10), 830-839. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2215-0366(19)30286-x
[6] Irish, L., Kobayashi, I., & Delahanty, D. L. (2010). Long-term Physical Health Consequences of Childhood Sexual Abuse: A Meta-Analytic Review. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 35(5), 450–461. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsp118
[7] Letourneau, E. J., Brown, D. S., Fang, X., Hassan, A., & Mercy, J. A. (2018). The economic burden of child sexual abuse in the United States. Child abuse & neglect, 79, 413-422. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.02.020
[8] Nagar, M., & Nakash, O. (2024). Can I Leave the Past Behind? Associations between Childhood Abuse and Adult Psychopathology. Healthcare, 12(3), 412. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12030412
[9] Ochoa, M. K., & Constantin, K. (2023). Impacts of child sexual abuse: The mediating role of future orientation on academic outcomes. Child Abuse & Neglect, 145, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106437
[10] Pérez-Fuentes, G., Olfson, M., Villegas, L., Morcillo, C., Wang, S., & Blanco, C. (2013). Prevalence and correlates of child sexual abuse: a national study. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 54(1), 16–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2012.05.010
[11] Walker, H. E., Freud, J. S., Ellis, R. A., Fraine, S. M., & Wilson, L. C. (2019). The Prevalence of Sexual Revictimization: A Meta-Analytic Review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 20(1), 67-80. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838017692364
[12] Wolf, M. (2023). The impact lingers well beyond childhood: Child sexual abuse, trauma symptoms, and income for adult survivors. European Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 7(3), 6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejtd.2023.100332
[13] Chang Chen, Paul L. Hewitt, Gordon L. Flett, Adverse childhood experiences and multidimensional perfectionism in young adults, Personality and Individual Differences, Volume 146, 2019, Pages 53-57, ISSN 0191-8869, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2019.03.042.