Child Sexual Abuse: Statistics, Causes, and Psychological Effects

This essay examines the issue of child sexual abuse, focusing on statistics from the UK, psychological reasons behind the abuse, and its effects on victims. It references data from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), highlighting the prevalence of child sexual abuse in England and Wales. The essay explores psychological factors contributing to abuse, such as the abuser's own history of abuse or mental health issues, and the resulting mental health consequences for victims, including depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of strengthening laws and regulations to protect children and prevent child abuse.

Running Head: CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE
CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE
Child abuse is one of the dreadful crime that exists in the world, since ancient times. The
oldest evidence of this crime can be found in Ancient Greece. The ere are several institution in
United kingdom which look after the matter of child abuse and attempts to protect children from
being the victims of this ignominious crime. For example- Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual
Abuse (IICSA), The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
Data of the current child sexual abuse (gender and age) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom is considered to one of the western countries where the rates of child
abuse are higher as compared to the other western countries. According to the statistics published
by Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), England as well as Wales are
considered to be the remarked places where the incidences of sexual abuse of girl child is a
regular phenomenon (Iicsa.org.uk, 2019). Another statistics revealed by The National Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, has revealed that, in spite of the existence of separate child
protection system in the countries like England, Northern Ireland, Scotland a well as Wales,
nearly 10,000 children in England and Wales are affected by sexual abuse to child (NSPCC
2019). Most of them are between the ages of 5to 14. Among the victims the number of girl child
is greater than that of the boys. The report has also revealed that in the 90% of cases of the child
abuse or sexual harassment of children, the abuser or the person committing the crime is one of
the known persons to the child.
Psychological reasons behind abusing a child:
Experts consider that in most of the cases people who were abused in their childhood
become the abuser of other children in later life. Again some experts consider that, in case of ill

2CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE
mental health and lack of opportunity to express and meet sexual desire during the entire life,
sexual complexities arising from mental dissatisfaction and development of unrealistic
expectation, instigate a person to become an abuser of a child. Again, people who were the
victims of unethical mental as well a sexual domination by their partners or other people around
them, try to fulfill their desire of dominating poorer persons around them and find a way out by
abusing a child sexually (Meinck et al. 2015).
Reasons as well as psychological consequences of child sexual abuse:
The sexual harassments of children may result into month short-term as well as long-term
mental diseases. According to some experts, the victims of this dreadful crime may say suffer
from psychopathology in life. This may not happen immediate after the accident. This may occur
in the long run, when the child has grown up. According to some psychologists, the sexual abuse
may snatch the child into the darkest pit of depression. Some consider that, the victims may also
suffer from anxiety. The trauma of sexual harassment may give birth to an unreasonable panic in
the minds of the children which may last forever. Again the victim may become the patient of
panic attack. Again eating disorder as well as low-self esteem can be exhibited in the children
who have gone through a regular sexual abuse in his or her childhood (Saied-Tessier 2014).
In the conclusion, it can be said that, child abuse is very harmful for the society as a
whole as it gives birth to a mentally unstable generation and weaken the base of the society.
Hence, this issue should be prevented by strengthening and modifying laws, rules and regulation
in the favor of children.

3CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE
References
Iicsa.org.uk (2019). IICSA Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. [online] Iicsa.org.uk.
Available at: https://www.iicsa.org.uk/ [Accessed 10 Jul. 2019].
Meinck, F., Cluver, L.D., Boyes, M.E. and Mhlongo, E.L., 2015. Risk and protective factors for
physical and sexual abuse of children and adolescents in Africa: a review and implications for
practice. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 16(1), pp.81-107.
NSPCC (2019). Child protection in the UK. [online] NSPCC. Available at:
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/child-protection-system/ [Accessed 10 Jul. 2019].
Saied-Tessier, A., 2014. Estimating the costs of child sexual abuse in the UK (pp. 1-44). London:
NSPCC.