SEXUAL ABUSE

Sexual abuse, also referred to as molestation, is usually

undesired sexual behavior by one person upon another. It is
often perpetrated using force or by taking advantage of
another.[1] When force is immediate, of short duration, or
infrequent, it is called sexual assault[citation needed]. The
offender is referred to as a sexual abuser or (often pejoratively)
molester.[2] The term also covers any behavior by an adult or
older adolescent towards a child to stimulate any of the involved
sexually. The use of a child, or other individuals younger than
the age of consent, for sexual stimulation is referred to as child
sexual abuse or statutory rape.

VERBAL ABUSE
Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors,
and other verbal or physical. conduct of a sexual nature
when: • Submission to such conduct is made either
explicitly or implicitly a term or. condition of an
individual's employment
 INJURIES
OR HARM
CAN CAUSE
BECAUSE OF
SEXUAL/VERBAL
ABUSE

PHYSICAL
IMPACT
  Vaginal or anal bleeding or infection
 Hypoactive sexual desire disorder
 Vaginitis or vaginal inflammation
 Dyspareunia – painful sexual intercourse
 Vaginismus – a condition affecting a woman's ability to engage in
any form of vaginal penetration
 Chronic pelvic pain
 Urinary tract infections
 Pregnancy
  HIV/AIDS

Psychological impact
Self-blame
Further information: Blame § Self-blame
Self-blame is among the most common of both short- and
long-term effects and functions as an avoidance coping
skill that inhibits the healing process and can often be
remedied by a cognitive therapy technique known as
cognitive restructuring.

There are two main types of self-blame: behavioral self-

blame (undeserved blame based on actions) and
characterological self-blame (undeserved blame based on
character). Survivors who experience behavioral self-
blame feel that they should have done something
differently, and therefore feel at fault. Survivors who
experience characterological self-blame feel there is
something inherently wrong with them which has caused
them to deserve to be assaulted.

A leading researcher on the psychological causes and

effects of shame, June Tangney, lists five ways shame can
be destructive:[16]

lack of motivation to seek care;

lack of empathy;
 isolation;
anger;
aggression.

Suicide
Victims of rape are more likely to attempt or commit
suicide.[20][21][22] The association remains, even after
controlling for sex, age, education, symptoms of post-
traumatic stress disorder and the presence of psychiatric
disorders.[23][24][25] The experience of being raped can
lead to suicidal behavior as early as adolescence. In
Ethiopia, 6% of raped schoolgirls reported having
attempted suicide. They also feel embarrassed to talk
about what had happened to them.[6] A study of
adolescents in Brazil found prior sexual abuse to be a
leading factor predicting several health risk behaviours,
including suicidal thoughts and attempts.