Child sex abuse

Child sex abuse (also known as CSA and child molestation) is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation, rather by force or coercion.Child Sexual Abuse: MedlinePlus"Guidelines for Psychological Evaluations in Child Protection Matters". The American Psychologist (54, 8): pp. 586-593. (August 1999). Archived by the Interview Archive on February 15, 2021. Retrieved on October 9, 2023. This includes, but is not limited to, indecent exposure,Indecent exposure is defined as the exposing of one's private body parts (i.e. genitalia) to another non-consenting party, rather recklessly or intentionally. grooming,Child grooming refers to actions or behaviors used to establish an emotional connection with a child or the child's family, with the intention of later pursuing the child sexually. This can happen either in person or online. and exploitation such as producing child pornography.Child pornography (also known as CP, child sexual abuse material, CSAM, child porn, or kiddie porn) is a form of unlawful pornographic media (film/video, writings, paintings/drawings, sound recording, video games, etc.) which exploits children/minors for sexual stimulation. It may directly involve children or be simulated, such as by a computer. Sexual abuse | NSPCC
== Statistics ==
=== Victims ===
* 1 in 9 girls and 1 in 20 boys experience child sex abuse; 82% of all of victims are female.
*66% of victims are between the ages of 12 and 17, while 34% are under the age of 12.
*72.1% of child sex abuse victims are Caucasian, while 22.8% are Latino and 20% are Black or African-American.Based on the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System and state-level population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau 
*Lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth are 4 times more likely to be victims of CSA than heterosexual youth.
*About 1 in 4 transgender individuals are sexually abused before the age of 18.
*Children with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities are 3 to 8 times more likely to be abused than their neurotypical peers.• 
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===Reporting===
*86% of child sex abuse goes unreported; most of those that do report their trauma, do not do so until adulthood.• 
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*Female victims are more likely to disclose CSA than male victims.
*Only 16% of cases of CSA are reported directly to authorities; rather, victims will report to family, peers, and/or other trusted adults.
===Abusers===
*90% of victims knew their abuser personally prior to the abuse.
*60% of abusers are acquaintances, teachers, neighbors, or community leaders.
*30% of children are abused by immediate or extended family members.
*Only 10% of children were sexually abused by a stranger.
*Most abusers are men; however, women are 4.5 times more likely than men to abuse their own biological children.
*70% of victims were sexually abused by a peer, of which:
**45.8% were by a friend;
**15.4% were by a boyfriend/girlfriend;
** 8.2% were by someone the victim had just met;
** and 2.5% were by a casual date.
===Online===
*1 in 6 young adults experienced 1 or more forms of CSA online before the age of 18.
**11% of which were victim to image-based sexual abuse;
**7.2% were victim to nonconsensual sextingSexting (a portmanteau of "sex" and "texting") refers to sending and/or receiving sexually explicit messages, images, or videos to/from another person via mobile phone or computer (such as by online chatroom or email).;
**5.4% were groomed by an adult;
**3.1% were victim to revenge pornographyRevenge pornography occurs when an individual spreads sexually explicit content of another individual without their consent, with the intention of distressing or embarrassing them (usually by a former romantic/sexual partner).;
**3.5% were victim to sextoritonSexual extortion, also known as sextortion, occurs when a victim is threatened or blackmailed into providing sexual acts, images, videos, etc. ;
**1.7% were victim to online commercial sexual exploitation.
***23% of victims are female;
***20% of victims are transgender or nonbinary.
*Minors with a history of offline CSA are 4 times more likely to be abused online.
*62% of online perpetrators are acquainted to the victim offline; most of which being former intimate partners.
===Symptoms===
*Depression, anxiety, and irritability
**Victims are 2.7 times more likely to experience depression and/or anxiety.
*Suicidal ideation and/or attempts
*Dissociation
*Inattentiveness
*Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health conditions
**Victims are 2.3 times more likely to be diagnosed with PTSD; 2.9 times more likely to be diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder; and 2.2 times more likely to develop eating disorders.
*Hypersexuality and/or engaging in dangerous sexual behaviors (i.e. unprotected sex)
**Victims are 1.2 times more likely to have unprotected sex; 1.5 times more likely to become a sex worker; and 1.6 times more likely to have multiple partners at a time.
*Abuse of alcohol, cannabis, and nicotine
**Victims are 1.7 times more likely to abuse substances such as these.
*Suddenly underperforming or overperforming in school
*Relationship issues, such as:
**trust issues,
**fear of intimacy/difficulty with arousal and desire,
**unstable relationships,
**eventual divorce,
**difficulty parenting.
*Physical health issues, such as in the:
**muscles/joints,
**stomach,
**and genitals (i.e. STDs or gynecological problems).
==Hotlines and websites==
===United States===
*+1 (800) 843-5678 (National Center for Missing & Exploited Children)
*+1 (800) 656-4673 (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)
*+1 (800) 422-4453 (National Child Abuse Hotline)
*988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline)
*+1 (888) 373-7888 (National Human Trafficking Hotline)
==Notes==
==References==
Category:Resources