The Abuse Problem
Physical and sexual abuse happens to both girls and boys, and it happens in communities across the State of New Hampshire.
Physical abuse may be any kind of hitting, shaking, burning, pinching, biting, choking, throwing, beating, and other actions that cause physical injury, leave marks, or produce significant pain.
Sexual abuse is any type of sexual contact between an adult and anyone younger than 18. Sexual abuse can be intercourse, touching, viewing of pornography or other forced sexual acts.
Victims of abuse can suffer a lifetime of emotional pain, and the negative consequences can effect children, their families and society almost immediately. Healing begins with disclosure, but abuse can be extremely difficult for children to report.
You can help child victims by knowing the signs of abuse and reporting suspicions when you have them.
Sexual abuse is more prevalent than most would ever guess
- 1 in 4 girls is sexually abused before the age of 18.
- 1 in 6 boys is sexually abused before the age of 18.
- 1 in 5 children are solicited sexually while on the internet.
- Nearly 70% of all reported sexual assaults (including assaults on adults) happen to children ages 17 and under.
- There are an estimated 39 million survivors of childhood sexual abuse in America today.
Sexual abuse happens even to young children
- The median age for reported abuse is 9 years old.
- More than 20% of children are sexually abused before the age of 8.
- Nearly 50% of all victims of forcible sodomy, sexual assault with an object, and forcible fondling are children under 12.
The overwhelming majority of sexually abused children know their abuser
- 30-40% of victims are abused by a family member.
- Another 50% are abused by someone their family knows and trusts.
- Approximately 40% are abused by older or larger children they know.
- Only 10% are abused by strangers.
Most sexually abused children don’t tell even when they’re asked
- Young victims may not recognize their victimization as abuse. Others can be too scared or ashamed.
- Almost 80% initially deny their abuse or are tentative in disclosing. Of those who disclose, approximately 75% will do so accidentally. And of those who disclose, more than 20% will recant even when the abuse did, in fact, occur.
Health and Behavioral Problems Resulting from Sexual Abuse
- Sexually abused children who do not disclose or who do and are not believed are at greater risk than the general population for psychological, emotional, social, and physical problems that last well into adulthood.
- Victims of child sexual abuse often report symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. They suffer more sadness and more school problems than non-victims.
- Victims of child sexual abuse are more likely to experience major depressive disorder as adults.
- Young girls who are sexually abused are more likely to develop eating disorders as adolescents.
Drug and Alcohol Problems
- 70-80% of sexual abuse survivors report excessive drug and alcohol use.
- Young girls who are sexually abused are 3 times more likely to develop psychiatric disorders or alcohol and drug abuse in adulthood than girls who are not sexually abused.
- Among male survivors, more than 70% seek psychological treatment for issues such as substance abuse, suicidal thoughts and attempted suicide.
Teenage Pregnancy and Promiscuity
- Victims of child sexual abuse are more likely to be sexually promiscuous.
- Women who report childhood rape are 3 times more likely to become pregnant before age 18.
- An estimated 60% of first pregnancies in teens are preceded by experiences of molestation, rape, or attempted rape. The average age of their offenders is 27 years.
- More than 75% of teenage prostitutes have been sexually abused.
Crime
- Adolescents who suffer violent abuse are more likely to commit felony assault, domestic violence, or property offenses as adults.
- Nearly 50% of women in prison state they were abused as children.
- Over 75% of serial rapists report they were sexually abused as youngsters.
Most perpetrators molest more than just one child
- 70% of child sex offenders have between 1 and 9 victims; 20% have more than 10.
- A serial child molester may have as many as 400 victims in his lifetime.
Statistics courtesy of Darkness to Light www.D2L.org
