Abuse can damage a child spiritually, emotionally, and socially as well as physically. Children and youth who are abused are often depressed and feel fearful and guilty. They have difficulty trusting and suffer from low self-esteem. They have difficulty sleeping, experience eating disorders and often complain of abdominal pain. If they are sexually abused there can be genital injury, STDs, and urinary infections.
Many abused children find it hard to get along with others.
They can be excessively aggressive or withdrawn. They have difficulty concentrating, are anxious and often irritable. Offenders are usually between the ages of 20-30 years. 20 percent of sex offenders begin their activity before the age of 18. Abusers are often married and have children of their own.