About Child Sexual Abuse

What is Child Sexual Abuse? 

To effectively prevent child sexual abuse, we must have a clear understanding of what it involves. Broadly speaking, child sexual abuse occurs when someone involves a child in sexual activity or interactions that the child does not understand, does not consent to, or cannot consent to.  

Child sexual abuse is complex because it takes many forms and occurs in a range of circumstances. To understand and prevent child sexual abuse, consider: 

• Power dynamics, such as when an adult holds a position of trust or authority in relation to the child 

• Age differences 

• Differences in developmental, intellectual, or physical capacity 

Sexual interactions between an adult and a child are abusive. (There may be exceptions when an older adolescent and young adult are in a safe and consenting relationship).  

When adults sexually abuse children, it often starts with “grooming.” Grooming is the process through which an adult manipulates a child—as well as their families and communities—for the purpose of sexually abusing them. Grooming builds rapport and trust with a child, reduces a child’s resistance or cautiousness, and creates opportunities to be alone with the child. You can learn more about grooming here. 

Sexual activity among children can also be abusive, especially when power differences are involved, such as: (i) one child subjecting another child to manipulation, coercion, threat, or force, and/or (ii) one child having significantly different developmental or intellectual capacity than the other. (Visit this page to learn more about how to respond to harmful or problematic sexual behaviors among children). Sexual activity among children who are adolescents, very close in age, and in safe and consenting relationships is not considered abusive. 

There is no singular “profile” of individuals who perpetrate child sexual abuse. That said, most victims of child sexual abuse know the person who is abusing them—they are rarely strangers.  

Forms of Child Sexual Abuse 

Child sexual abuse takes many different forms and can include touching and non-touching behaviors. It can occur in-person and, increasingly, can be facilitated by technology (e.g., online). Some examples of child sexual abuse include: 

• Rape 

• Sexual assault 

• Non-consensual exposure of sexual body parts (i.e., “indecent exposure”), which can include “flashing,” “cyberflashing,” or public masturbation. 

• Requesting, possessing, producing, or sharing sexually explicit images of children. This type of abuse is constantly evolving—as is terminology to describe it—and includes so-called “sextortion” or “sexting”  

• Sexual harassment , which takes many forms including  unwanted sexual attention and explicit gender-based discrimination 

• Commercial sexual exploitation, in which a child engages, agrees to engage, or offers to engage in sexual activity with other people in exchange for money, food, shelter, clothing, education, or care 

Impacts of Child Sexual Abuse 

All of these types of child sexual abuse can harm children, both immediately and in the long-term. Experiencing sexual abuse as a child can impact: 

• Mental and behavioral health, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and substance misuse.¹ 

• Physical health, including gastrointestinal and cardiopulmonary disorders.² 

• Sexual health, including challenges with sexual functioning, behaviors, and relationships into adulthood.³  

• Life outcomes, including revictimization, socioeconomic disadvantages, and difficulty forming healthy relationships into adulthood.⁴ 

Sources

¹ Hailes H. P. et al. (2019). Long-term outcomes of childhood sexual abuse: An umbrella review. Lancet Psychiatry 6(10), 830-839. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(19)30286-X  

² Danese, A. et al. (2014). Childhood maltreatment and obesity: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Molecular Psychiatry 19, 544–554 https://doi.org/10.1038/mp.2013.54 ; Irish, L. et al. (2009). Long-term physical health consequences of childhood sexual abuse: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Pediatric Psychology 35(5), 450-61. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsp118.  

³ Wekerle, C. et al. (2017). Childhood sexual abuse, sexual motives, and adolescent sexual risk-taking among males and females receiving child welfare services. Child Abuse & Neglect 66, 101-111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2017.01.013 ; Pulverman, C. et al. (2018). The impact of childhood sexual abuse on women’s sexual health: A comprehensive review. Sexual Medicine Reviews 6(2), 188-200. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sxmr.2017.12.002 ; Neilson, E. et al. (2024). The effects of childhood sexual abuse, mental health, and motives for sex on sexual risk-taking among United States men who have sex with women. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse 32(1), 3-21. https://doi.org/10.1080/10538712.2022.2155284  

⁴ Luciana C. et al. (2022). Impact of child sexual abuse on socioeconomic attainment in adulthood.  Journal of Adolescent Health 71(5), 594-600. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2022.05.013 ; Scoglio, A. et al. (2019). Systematic review of risk and protective factors for revictimization after child sexual abuse. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 22(1), 41-53. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838018823274 ; Nielsen, B. F. et al. (2018). A scoping review of challenges in adult intimate relationships after childhood sexual abuse. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 27(6), 718–728. https://doi.org/10.1080/10538712.2018.1491915  

Note: The description shared above is intended to promote the prevention of child sexual abuse (CSA). This description is not intended to replace or supersede any existing laws, regulations, or policies relating to CSA. If you are a person who serves or works with children, you likely are subject to legal requirements relating to the prevention of child sexual abuse. Questions about your obligations under state or federal law? Consult with your organization’s legal counsel. Questions about compliance with organizational policies? Talk with your organization.