These statistics suggest that 1.4 per 1000 children have sexual abuse experiences that are considered substantiated by law enforcement or other child protection agencies. In population surveys that assess for childhood sexual abuse experiences, the rates are significantly higher. These rates vary some across studies and are dependent on how childhood sexual abuse is defined and the sample of individuals who are assessed. Most commonly, the offender is someone known to the child. A number of variables have been investigated to determine what, if any, factors are associated with increased risk for childhood sexual abuse.
Females are three times more likely to be sexually abused during childhood than males.
Families in which there is a stepparent living in the household have been associated with increased risk. In addition, specific characteristics of families with a child who has been sexually abused have been given some attention in the literature. Children who have a physical disability are almost twice as likely to be sexually abused than children without a disability are. Socioeconomic status and race have not been found to be risk factors. Much of the information we have regarding the longer term impact of childhood sexual abuse is provided by adults who report a history of childhood sexual abuse.