Victims of child sexual abuse are found in all classes and ethnocultural communities. Children who have physical or mental disabilities are especially vulnerable to sexual abuse. Children are not able to give informed consent to sexual activity because they cannot fully understand adult-child sexual contact or predict the consequences, and because the adult is abusing a position of authority over the child. Children who are isolated from others are at greater risk of being sexually abused. These children have little contact with friends, brothers and sisters or adults whom they can trust.
Some abusers are able to take advantage of a child who is already isolated.
Other abusers manage to isolate the child by manipulating people and situations. As a result of sexual abuse, some children may further isolate themselves because they feel different or afraid of what others will think. There is a greater possibility of serious distress to the child if the abuser is a family member, or if the child does not receive support from his or her non-abusive parent. The long-term consequences are also worse if force or the threat of force was used in the commission of the abuse, or if there were many incidents of abuse over a long period. As mentioned above, children find it difficult to break the silence.