Unfortunately, sexual abuse is a common phenomenon, and since its manifestations cannot be eliminated, scientists and doctors develop methods to determine its effect and overcome them. Although violence and abuse at any age are traumatic, their consequences for children are more critical as it affects all stages of their growth and development as an individual. For this reason, this paper will examine the long-term effects of sexual abuse that occur during adolescence and the formation of the personality of young adults.
Sexual abuse can have physical and mental effects on the development of children, even if they were not aware of the things that happen to them. Moreover, the consequences of abuse can have both a short-term effect, such as injuries to the genitals and shock from the events, as well as long-term impacts that appear in adulthood. One of the stages of human development during which previously hidden problems are most acute is adolescence and puberty. The most common physical consequences at this stage can be a disease of the reproductive organs or hormonal development problems. and even reproductive cancers, as well as obesity or bulimia nervosa due to depression (Hailes, Yu, Danese, & Fazel, 2019; Noll et al., 2017). In addition, Noll et al. (2017) note that children who experienced sexual abuse have early puberty due to prolonged exposure to sex hormones. Thus, sexual abuse has direct short-term and long-term effects on a person’s physical development.
Nevertheless, a more significant and widespread effect of sexual abuse is a negative impact on the mental health and behavior of adolescents. These effects can be expressed in aggressive and destructive behavior, alcohol and drug abuse, as well as depression, low self-esteem, and the development of mental problems. Disagreement is a common manifestation of personal development in adolescence; however, it is not expressed in the manifestation of cruelty and excessive aggressiveness. Children who have experienced sexual abuse, especially repeatedly, can also use aggression as a defense mechanism. In addition, the consequences of violence are mistrust and communication problems, which is why many teenagers are faced with a lack of friends, bullying, and, as a result, expressing their concern through aggression (Fontes, Conceição, & Machado, 2017). At the same time, aggression is only one of the noticeable manifestations of behavioral problems, since adolescents can also hide their emotions and behave aloof.
Such behavior also creates an unfavorable atmosphere in the school as teachers and students can be biased against such children. As a result, abused teens often have problems with academic performance and are less likely to graduate from high school and go to college (Fontes, Conceição, & Machado, 2017). Another consequence of early sexual abuse can be irresponsible sexual behavior that leads to illness, infection, and underage pregnancy (Hailes et al., 2019). At the same time, adolescents who have been sexually abused in childhood are more often socialized as victims. Consequently, repeated cases of sexual abuse or assault in such adolescents are three to five times higher than in non-abused young people (Castro, Ibáñez, Maté, Esteban, & Barrada, 2019). The use of drugs and alcohol is also a means of avoiding loneliness and depression. For this reason, multiple studies have noted that abused teens are also more likely to use alcohol and drugs and have addictions (Cashmore & Shackel, 2013). Thus, sexual violence has many devastating consequences that are reflected in adolescent behavior.
Moreover, sexual violence has a significant effect on the mental health of adolescents, which manifests itself in various disorders. The most common problems are depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, panic disorder, and suicidal tendency. Moreover, many of the symptoms can occur even if the person in childhood was not aware of the fact of sexual violence. For example, Daigneault, Dion, Hébert, and Bourgeois (2016) found that a low level of awareness is associated with a greater manifestation of post-traumatic stress disorder, and a higher level of awareness causes aggression and anxiety. Cashmore and Shackel, (2013) also note that children who have experienced early sexual abuse will have mental disorders in adolescence and adulthood more likely. Hence, sexual violence has consequences on a person’s development, regardless of his or her age.
Nonetheless, the degree and likelihood of these problems manifesting themselves are different, and not all victims of sexual violence have mental health problems. Cashmore and Shackel, (2013) say that 25 percent of abused children do not experience any symptoms as adolescents, as well as 40 percent of adults. However, awareness of sexual abuse can also lead to problems with accepting one’s own body and feelings of guilt when a person believes that he or she deserved or provoked such a situation. Such ideas, depression, and anxiety are often the causes of suicide, the likelihood of which is 2.4% higher than non-abused children (Cashmore & Shackel, 2013). Thus, sexual violence has consequences for all key aspects of adolescent development, namely physiological, behavioral, communication, mental, and even intellectual, since violations in one area of development are most often causing problems in others.
The next phase of human development is early adulthood, during which the formation of a person’s body, character, and relationships is on the final stage. Undoubtedly, changes in the development of personality also occur after the end of this period; however, the foundations are being formed at this stage. Young adults become independent from their parents and make decisions related to their careers, personal relationships, and lifestyle. For this reason, many problems encountered in adolescence are more pronounced and impede the development of a young adult.
The main effects of sexual violence on a young adult are expressed in problems that are not significantly different from issues in adolescence, and many of them are their consequences. For example, problems with learning at school interfere with higher education and career growth. The abuse of psychotropic substances also prevents getting job and building relationships, and also negatively affects the physical health of a person.
Moreover, sexual abuse in childhood or adolescence can form a distorted view of healthy sexual behavior and relationships. Castro et al. (2019) note that risky sexual behavior can be caused by a desire to repeat negative sexual models, a consequence of stigma, and a sense of power lack in relationships. For this reason, some young adults constantly change sexual partners and avoid serious relationships. In addition, a sense of mistrust and the difficulty in bonding also impede the building of relationships and families. The result of a traumatic experience can also be a fear of intimacy due to painful memories, which can also be an obstacle to relationships and marriage. This behavior often leads to feelings of loneliness and anxiety, and also increases the risk of STD. Consequently, young adults cannot realize themselves in relations and career, which is an important part of a person’s development and emotional stability.
Furthermore, studies show a direct link between sexual abuse and the development of mental disorders and diseases. Depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and high levels of stress that occur in adolescence can also continue or occur in young adults. Studies also show that childhood sexual abuse contributes to the development of psychotic, schizophrenic, and delusional disorders (Hailes et al., 2019; Cashmore & Shackel, 2013). Mental problems, stress, and difficulties in self-realization also increase the risk of suicide. Thus, the consequences of sexual violence can have a lasting effect and impede the development of young adults, their self-realization, building relationships, mental, and emotional stability.
In conclusion, sexual abuse has serious and destructive consequences for a person as its effects are harmful and long-term. The consequences of sexual violence can hurt the physical and psychological development of adolescents because it affects their perceptions of themselves and others, and can also cause mental problems. The effects on the development of a young adult are no less destructive since the consequences of sexual abuse can cause problems of sexual behavior, relationships, and barriers for self-realization arising from psychological disorders. Although these effects are manifested for each child and adult to varying degrees, their timely determination and elimination are mandatory for the normal development of a person.
References
Cashmore, J. and Shackel, R. (2013). The long-term effects of child sexual abuse. The Australian Institute of Family Studies. The Child Family Community Australia. Web.
Castro, Á., Ibáñez, J., Maté, B., Esteban, J., & Barrada, J. R. (2019). Childhood sexual abuse, sexual behavior, and revictimization in adolescence and youth: A Mini Review. Frontiers in psychology, 10, 1-5.
Daigneault, I., Dion, J., Hébert, M., & Bourgeois, C. (2016). Mindfulness as mediator and moderator of post-traumatic symptomatology in adolescence following childhood sexual abuse or assault. Mindfulness, 7, 1306–1315.
Fontes, L.F.C, Conceição, O.C., & Machado, S. (2017). Childhood and adolescent sexual abuse, victim profile and its impacts on mental health. Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, 22(9), 2919-2928
Hailes, H. P., Yu, R., Danese, A., & Fazel, S. (2019). Long-term outcomes of childhood sexual abuse: An umbrella review. The Lancet Psychiatry, 6(10), 830–839.
Noll, J. G., Trickett, P. K., Long, J. D., Negriff, S., Susman, E. J., Shalev, I., … Putnam, F. W. (2017). Childhood sexual abuse and early timing of puberty. Journal of Adolescent Health, 60(1), 65–71.