The Shocking Statistics that Abuse Leaves In It's Wake

Abuse leaves behind it’s wake damage and destruction. It also leaves behind the stuff that scientific, mathematical and psychological studies are made of. Hopefully the people who research and study the results can use those same statistics in ways that will help the objects of their studies.

The Statistics and Results that have been found are shocking and Leads us to believe that Something Must Be Done.

Terminology:
PREVALENCE is the percentage of the population that is affected by child sexual abuse; the general existence of child sexual abuse.

CONSEQUENCE is the impact that child sexual abuse has on a victim/survivor and on our society over time.
Sexual abuse touches every life when it leads to losses of trust, decreases in self esteem, and development of shame, guilt and depression.
Sexual abuse touches every life when it leads to eating disorders, substance abuse, suicide, promiscuity/prostitution, and other psycho-behavioral issues;

The statistics are shocking, with an estimated 39 million survivors of childhood sexual abuse existing in America today.

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) occur to children ages 17 and under.

Unfortunately, the worst abuse occurs within the walls of their own homes, where children are at risk for sexual abuse, as only 10% of children are actually abused by strangers.

30-40% of victims are abused by a family member.
Another 50% are abused by someone outside of the family whom they know and trust.
Approximately 40% are abused by older or larger children whom they know.

Sexual abuse can occur at all ages, and much occurs at ages much younger than you think or could ever imagine.

The median age for reported abuse is 9 years old.
However, 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.
Infants and Babies are brought into hospitals every day in America after being forcibly raped and sodomized. Many die.

Most children don't tell even if they have been asked, and only .050 (½%) will fabricate an experience of childhood sexual abuse.

Evidence that a child has been sexually abused is not always obvious, and many children do not report that they have been abused.
Over 30% of victims never disclose the experience to ANYONE.
Young victims may not recognize their victimization as sexual abuse.
Almost 80% initially deny abuse or are tentative in disclosing. Of those who do disclose, approximately 75% disclose accidentally. Additionally, of those who do disclose, more than 20% eventually recant even though the abuse occurred.
Fabricated sexual abuse reports constitute only 1% to 4% of all reported cases. Of these reports, 75% are falsely reported by adults and 25% are reported by children. Children only fabricate ½% of the time.

The Families and children are affected and suffer the consequences of child sexual immediately. These consequences also affect society in innumerable and negative ways. These effects can continue throughout the life of the survivor so the impact on society for just one survivor continues over multiple decades. Try to imagine the impact of 39 million survivors.

Health and/or Behavioral Problems:

One of the most important elements for the victim, how they will deal forever with the abuse and how the incident affects them is how the victim's family responds to the abuse.
Sexually abused children who keep it a secret or who "tell" and are not believed are at greater risk than the general population for psychological, emotional, social, and physical problems often lasting into adulthood.
Children who have been victims of sexual abuse are more likely to experience physical health problems (e.g., headaches).
Victims of child sexual abuse report more symptoms of PTSD, more sadness, and more school problems than non-victims.
Major depressive disorder is reported as experienced by an adult much more frequently for Victims of child sexual abuse.
Young girls who are sexually abused are more likely to develop eating disorders as adolescents.
Failure is very often a recurring theme in the life of the victim of a violent crime or a sexual crime. Adolescent victims of violent crime have difficulty in the transition to adulthood, are more likely to suffer financial failure and physical injury, and are at risk to fail in other areas due to problem behaviors and outcomes of the victimization.

Drug and/or Alcohol Problems:

70-80% of sexual abuse survivors report excessive drug and alcohol use. Victims of child sexual abuse report more substance abuse problems
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.
Males who have been sexually abused are more likely to violently victimize others. And ammong male survivors, more than 70% seek psychological treatment for issues such as substance abuse, suicidal thoughts and attempted suicide.

Teenage Pregnancy and Promiscuity:

Children who have been victims of sexual abuse exhibit long-term and more frequent behavioral problems, particularly inappropriate sexual behaviors.
Women who report childhood rape are 3 times more likely to become pregnant before age 18.
An estimated 60% of teen first pregnancies are preceded by experiences of molestation, rape, or attempted rape. The average age of their offenders is 27 years.
Victims of child sexual abuse are more likely to be sexually promiscuous.
More than 75% of teenage prostitutes have been sexually abused. They continue by abusing themselves, possibly by retention of a sense of loss of self worth and value.

Crime:

Adolescents who suffer violent victimization are at risk for being victims or perpetrators of felony assault, domestic violence, and property offense as adults.
Nearly 50% of women in prison state that they were abused as children.
Over 75% of serial rapists report they were sexually abused as youngsters.

Most perpetrators don't molest only one child if they are not reported and stopped.

Nearly 70% of child sex offenders have between 1 and 9 victims; at least 20% have 10 to 40 victims. (23)
An average serial child molester may have as many as 400 victims in his lifetime.

These statistics are according to http://www.darkness2light.org/KnowAbout/statistics_2.asp

SHOCKING, YES?
ANYONE WHO RE-OFFENDS NEEDS TO BE LOCKED AWAY FOR LIFE.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE MANY LAWS ABOUT THIS TOPIC THAT NEED TO CHANGE.
IT’S TIME TO SHOW THESE STATISTICS TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW, TO YOUR STATE AND COUNTRY LEGISLATORS AND ASK FOR STRICTER LAWS.

Rika B.

NOTE/Disclaimer: Inclusion in our list of organizations, books, counselors, and other links and resources does not necessarily indicate a recommendation or endorsement. What is helpful for another survivor may not be right for you. As always, use your own judgment when contacting any of these organizations. Advice given at this website, or in conjunction with Joshua Childrens Foundation activities is not to be taken as a counseling or clinical relationship but only as suggestion based on the founders personal experience as a sex abuse victim resulting in bulimia eating disorder and the healing journey from that. Articles, links, or content contained on this website should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or attention by a qualified practitioner, nor should it be inferred as such. Always check with your doctor if you have any questions or concerns about a specific condition. Joshua Childrens Foundation does not take any responsibility and is held harmless from any actions by anyone associated with the websites we link to.