We are in a time when more and more
cases of sexual abuse in childhood, it might even seem that there is a boom in this type of abuse, although what really happens is that they are increasingly visible.

According to the studies,
around 7.4% of men and 19.2% of women have been victims of this type of abuse , although these figures cannot be taken as determining due to the high number of cases that are not reported.

Childhood sexual abuse: a silenced reality

Contrary to popular belief,
the most frequent sexual abuse of children is committed within the family nucleus and by a person with whom the child has an affective and trusting relationship.

Studies also reveal that in a high percentage of cases the abuse is carried out within a play context, where the adult uses the children to participate without being aware of the implications of such behaviour and that is why, in many cases, these behaviours go unnoticed by the rest of the family members, who are unaware of the facts.

The effects of having been sexually abused in childhood

But what are the implications of childhood sexual abuse?

The studies carried out for this purpose inform us that
p thixotropic substances may appear in both the short and long term and that these symptoms can affect all facets of a child’s life.

While it is estimated that about 30% of victims of sexual abuse do not have associated symptoms, the remaining victims often present a range of both short-term and long-term problems, including
anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, feelings of guilt, stigmatization, attention and concentration problems, relationship problems, sleep disorders, uninhibited sexual behavior, suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts, among other symptoms, which over time and if they persist may worsen until the appearance of depressive and bipolar disorders, post-traumatic stress disorders, borderline personality disorders and self-destructive and self-injurious behaviors (Pereda, 2009).

Suicides: facts and figures

One of the most serious consequences, given the intent to end one’s life, is suicide. About 50% of sexually abused men and
67% of the women have or have had suicidal ideation and of these a considerable percentage have tried to end their lives (11% of the women and 4% of the men).

More on this subject: “Suicides: data, statistics and associated mental disorders”

But is there any data to support this claim?The answer is yes. Studies concerning adolescent suicide are scarce because of the social impact they have and because, as in the case of sexual abuse, they are problems that remain underlying and do not come to light easily, but as early as 1991 Cirillo and Blasco argued that victims of sexual abuse who had not felt heard or protected had a tendency to engage in self-aggressive behavior that could lead to suicide.

Another study reveals, that the
The study showed that all types of abuse during childhood are associated with suicide in adults at a rate of 5.53% and that the seriousness of the abuse could even influence the initiation and frequency of these attempts, and that there seems to be a correlation between suicide attempts and the time that has elapsed since the abuse occurred, since these behaviours appear around 2 years after the abuse (González-Forteza, Ramos Lira, Vignau Brambila and Ramírez Villarreal, 2001).

Various conclusions

Looking at these figures
it seems clear that there is an important correlation between having suffered sexual abuse in childhood and making suicide attempts in adolescence .

Although it is not the only cause that motivates them, since studies based only on adolescent suicide attempts present as risk factors for this type of behavior, in addition to childhood abuse, the existence of
family dysfunction, anxiety-depressive symptoms and behavioral problems. Still, the data are alarming and reveal the enormous psychological and physical consequences that abused people can suffer during the child stage.

Bibliographic references:

  • González-Forteza, C., Ramos Lira, L., Vignau Brambila, L. B. and Ramírez Villareal, C. (2001). Salud Mental Mexico, 24, N.6, Dec.
  • Larraguibel, M.; González, P.; Martínez, V.; Valenzuela, R. (2000). Risk factors of suicidal behavior in children and adolescents. Chilean Journal of Pediatrics, 71, May 3.
  • Páramo Castillo, D., Chávez Hernández, A. M. (2007) Maltrato y suicidio infantil en el Estado de Guanajuato. Salud Mental, 30, nº3, May-June. P. 59-67.
  • Pereda, N., (2009). Initial psychological consequences of child sexual abuse. Psychologist’s roles, 30(2), pp135-144.
  • Pereda, N., (2010). Long-term psychological consequences of child sexual abuse. Psychologist’s papers, 31(2), pp. 191-201.