The Effects and Treatment of Childhood Sexual Abuse in Adult Survivors

Sexual abuse has become a national emergency in the United States. Current statistics are alarming as they are, but thousands of cases each year are not even reported. A significant and disturbing maladaptive basis has been found in the psychological well-being make-up of adult survivors of sexual abuse throughout many years of research, and an avid plea for more intense study has been called for within medical and psychological fields. The goal of this qualitative study is to determine the risk factors associated with childhood sexual abuse, to identify the long-term effects of sexual abuse displayed in adulthood, and to recognize the moderators of and the most successful types of treatment for the negative consequences of this unthinkable and debilitating form of child maltreatment. The necessity and purpose of this research is to provide collaborative information on such a prevalent and important topic in order for professionals to become more aware of the pervasiveness and seriousness facets that encompasses childhood sexual abuse. 10