Understanding the Impact of Sexual Trauma

Maryann Clesceri, MSW, LCSWExecutive Director The Healing Center

Our MissionThe Healing Center offers

sexual abuse survivors & their loved ones opportunities for healing

by providing support, advocacyand community education. 

FBI - one in four girls is sexually abused before the age of eighteen and one in six boys have been abused by the same age.

ChildHelp-a report of child abuse is made every ten seconds.

Almost five children die everyday as a result of child abuse. More than three out of four are under the age of 4.

About 30% of abused and neglected children will later abuse their own children, continuing the horrible cycle of abuse.

Overview of Child Abuse

Less than one victim of sexual abuse in ten will tell. 90% of child sexual abuse victims know the perpetrator in

some way; 68% are abused by family members. Child abuse occurs at every socioeconomic level, across

ethnic and cultural lines, within all religions and at all levels of education.

The median age for sexual abuse is just nine years of age. 58% of children who are both physically and sexually abused

have Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome.

Facts about PTSD & Children in Foster Care

• 48 % of youth in foster care have behavioral / emotional problems while 63% are victims of neglect (Casey Family Programs, 2011).

• Children involved in the foster care system are at higher risk for developing PTSD (American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 2011).

• 19 % of children referred to child welfare for investigation and ultimately placed in foster homes have PTSD symptoms (Kolko et al., 2010).

Facts about PTSD & Children in Foster Care

21% of foster care alumni suffer from PTSD, a rate that is higher than that of U.S. war veterans (Pecora et al, 2005).

Of children in foster care, 60% of those sexually abused & 42% of those physically abused will develop PTSD (Maresenich, 2002).

Adults who experienced childhood trauma are more likely:

• To struggle academically and socially

• Have lower reading and math skills

• Struggle with obtaining and sustaining employment (Hall, et.al 2000)

• Use maladaptive coping to avoid PTSD symptoms.

• Lack adult life skills like relationship competence, money management, life planning and parenting. (Hall et. al, 2000)

• Adult women with a history of CSA were more likely to experience forcible rape as an adult (Dilillo & Damschek, 2003).

• Adults with a history of CSA/ASA are more likely to define life in ‘all or nothing’ thinking and swing like a pendulum on setting boundaries with children, relationship partners, family, work, etc. (Dilillo & Damschek, 2003).

• Adults with a history of CSA were more likely exposed to other forms of trauma (Dilillo & Damschek, 2003).

• Mothers with a history of CSA were more likely to struggle with their role in parenting, less confident in their parenting and describe less satisfaction with parenting (Dilillo & Damschek, 2003).

PTSD/Complex PTSD & Adults

Food for thought

•All survivors have strengths

•All deserve to be believed

•Healing is Possible