NCJ Number
110604
Date Published
1986
Length
23 pages
Annotation
Child sexual abuse is discussed in terms of its legal and medical definitions, its incidence and prevalence, the behavioral signs of victimization, and clinical issues related to interviewing, evaluating, and treating victims.
Abstract
Criminal statutes related to child sexual abuse vary from State to State, but generally define sexual abuse as various sexual acts involving an adult and a child under age 14. The psychiatric diagnostic manual defines pedophilia as one of the paraphilias. A variety of studies indicate that childhood sexual abuse is much more common than has generally been thought, but our society has invested few resources for its identification, treatment, and prevention. Behaviors that indicate possible child sexual abuse include overly compliant behavior, acting-out aggressive behavior, withdrawal, school difficulties, failure to take part in school and other social activities, depressed mood and feelings of helplessness, sleep disturbances, pseudomature behavior, age-inappropriate behavior, spending a lot of time away from home, running away, and avoidance and distrust of adults. Interviewers of child victims should take care to prevent the interview procedures from psychologically or emotionally victimizing the child. In incest cases, the professional must also assess the family. Treatment must recognize the problems that are common to all victims and those that are more likely to affect victims of intrafamilial sexual abuse. Both legal and mental health professionals should also help reduce the stress that child victims experience in their interactions with the criminal justice process. Increased attention is needed for effective treatment of sex offenders, to teach children about potential problems and how to avoid them, and to primary prevention efforts. 57 references.