PASSAGES, Inc

CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT FACT SHEET

Child sexual assault is sexual contact between a child and an adult or another child. Both
victims and offenders come from all ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. It occurs in
both rural and urban areas.

Generally, children are sexually abused by adults who are related to them or known to them
or their families. Since most children seek approval from adults, they are very vulnerable to
abuse. They will do what is asked without questioning. Children keep silent about the abuse
because of threats or bribes. Often they believe they are responsible for their abuse.

Statistics:
~ In 1995, 44.9 percent of all substantiated reports of child abuse involved sexual abuse
(Department of Public Welfare).

~ The percentage of children who reported their abuse in 1995 was 40.4. (Child Abuse
Report, DPW).

~ While mothers were responsible for the abuse and neglect in approximately 500 more cases
than fathers, fathers and babysitters were twice as likely to be perpetrators of sexual abuse
(Child Abuse Report, PA DPW).

~ Sixty-one children died as a result of child abuse in 1995 (Child Abuse Report, DPW).

~ In a 1994 national Gallup poll, 55% of people surveyed rated their state governments
"poor" or "not good" when it comes to dealing with the problem of child sexual assault.
Approximately 36% of respondents rated their governments "good" while only one percent
rated their state governments "excellent" in dealing with child sexual assault (1994 Bureau of
Justice Statistics Sourcebook from a May 1994 Gallup poll).

~ It is reported that next to family members, babysitters are the second largest group to
sexually abuse children (PA Child Abuse Report, 1995). Also, children cared for in family
day-care homes are more likely to be abused than those cared for in a day-care center. The
child may be abused by the child care provider or another member of the family who is at
home during the day-care hours. Sexual abuse offenders in a child care setting are more likely
to be females (In Their Parents' Absence).

~ Sexual abuse is not exclusively perpetrated by adults; in some cases it is a sibling who
abuses a child. Children who are victimized by siblings experience symptoms similar to those
abused by a parent. Three-fourths of victims are under the age of 9. Sibling incest offenders
are more likely to have been sexually abused than other adolescent offenders. They are also
more likely to have intercourse with their victim(s). These offenders also will have more
victims than adolescents who sexually abuse unrelated individuals (Family Sexual Abuse).

~ Child sexual assault will affect a child in many ways. Within two years of the assault a child
may experience fear, hostility, guilt, shame, depression, low self-esteem, poor self-image,
physical and sleep complaints, sexual behavior disturbances, and poor social functioning.
Long-term effects may include depression, prostitution, alcoholism, substance abuse,
emotional disorders, suicide, sleep disorders, low self-esteem, problems with interpersonal
relationships, sexual disturbances, and re-victimization. The severity of these effects varies,
but it is influenced by such factors as the number of abusers, frequency of abuse, relationship
with abuser, the amount of force used, the developmental level of child at time of the abuse,
how family/society reacts to disclosure and other types of maltreatment and family
conditions such as alcoholism (Developmental Considerations for the Effects of Childhood
Sexual Abuse).

~ Three out of every four children accidentally disclose sexual abuse. Younger children are
more likely to disclose accidentally than elementary school children or adolescents.
Educational programs provided the impetus for nearly one-quarter of the purposefully
disclosed. A child's disclosure of sexual assault rarely occurs in the initial interview. Even
after a child has confirmed sexual abuse, approximately one-fifth will recant their allegations.
However, 92% of those who recant will reaffirm their abuse at a later date (How Children
Tell).

~ In a study conducted at Tufts University New England Medical Center, in 68% of the
cases, the offender coerced the child to comply either through threats or actual physical
aggression. Parents were as likely as any other group of offenders to use violence (Child
Sexual Abuse: The Initial Effects).

~ Children are more likely to report sexual abuse when they feel less loyalty toward the
offender. When a child was abused by a natural parent, more than 55% did not tell of the
abuse (Child Sexual Abuse: The Initial Effects).

~ Children are often groomed for sexual assault. The grooming process includes building
trust, bestowing favors, alienating others, demanding secrecy and violating boundaries (The
Incest Perpetrators).

~ Girls who have been sexually abused become pregnant at a significantly higher rate than
those who have not. More than one-tenth report their pregnancy is the result of sexual abuse
(Child Sexual Abuse as Factor in Adolescents).

~ More than one-third of all female students report harassment on a daily basis (Secrets in
Public). Nearly one-third of those who reported sexual harassment reported that it began in
sixth grade or earlier. Nearly one-fifth reported being sexually harassed by adults. Ten percent
of school boys reported being sexually harassed by school employees (Hostile Hallways).

~ More than a third of stepfathers who abuse are younger, some significantly younger than
the natural mother (The Incest Perpetrator).

~ More than two-thirds of boys are abused by men. Eighty-three percent of victims are under
the age of 12. More than one-quarter are under the age of 6. Eight percent are abused by
fathers or stepfathers (The Sexually Abused Male). Noncustodial fathers are more likely to
abuse boys than fathers or intact families or stepfathers (The Incest Perpetrator).

~ Sexually abused children may be at greater risk for sexual abuse in foster care than children
who were mistreated in other ways. They may behave in ways that members of the foster
family interpret as an invitation to sexual activity, expect to be sexually abused or become
sexually involved with other foster children staying in the same home. Fathers may sexually
abuse foster children even though they do not abuse their own (Understanding Child Sexual
Maltreatment).

Resources:

American Assn. of University Women, Hostile Hallways, AAUW, 1993.

Bureau of Justice Statistics, Sourcebook, from a May 1994 Gallup poll.

Downs, William R, Developmental Considerations for the Effects of Childhood Sexual
Abuse, Journal of Interpersonal Violence, September, 1993.

Faller, Kathleen Colborn, Understanding Child Sexual Maltreatment, Sage Publications, Inc.,
1990.

Gomes-Swartz, Beverly; Horowitz, Jonathan M. and Cardarelli, Albert P. Child Sexual Abuse:
The Effects. Sage Publications, Inc., 1990.

Horton, Anne L. Johnson; Barry L. Roundy, Lynn M, and Williams. Doran. The Incest
Perpetrator, Sage Publications, Inc., 1990.

Hunter, Mic, ed., The Sexually Abused Male, Lexington Books, 1990.

Margolin, Leslie, In Their Parents'Absence, Violence Update, May 1993.

Ounce of Prevention Fund, Child Sexual Abuse: A Hidden Factor in Adolescent Sexual
Behavior Springfield, IL, 1987.

Patton, Michael Quinn, Family Sexual Abuse, Sage Publications, Inc., 1991.

PA Dept. of Public Welfare, Child Abuse Report, Harrisburg, Pa., 1995.

Sorensen, Teena and Snow, Barbara, How Children Tell: The Process of Disclosure in Child
Sexual Abuse, Child Welfare, January-February 1991.

Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR)
125 N. Enola Dr. Enola, PA 17025
717-728-9740 or 800-692-7445 (in PA)
e-mail: stop@pcar.org
URL: http://www.pcar.org
PA Relay Service: 800-654-5984