SEXUAL ABUSE AND IT’S INFLUENCE

ON BEHAVIORS.

BY SUSAN SKIME


FEW FACTS
 Child Sexual abuse not only includes sexual contact, but also
includes other actions like exposing oneself, sharing obscene
images or taking inappropriate photos or videos of a child.

 A crime this serious has a very negative impact on a child's

behavior. It affects the life and the development of the child,
and may also affect the survivor later in life.

 Every 8 minutes, government authorities respond to another

report of child sexual abuse.
 BEHAVIORAL SIGNS
CAUGHT AT HOME.

• Sexual behavior that is inappropriate for the child’s age.

• Bedwetting, or soiling the bed ( if child has already out
grown this behavior).
• Not wanting to be left alone with certain people or being
afraid to be away from primary care giver, especially if this is
a new behavior.
• Tries to avoid removing clothing to change, or bathe.
BEHAVIOR SIGNS
CAUGHT AT SCHOOL.

• Students who talk inappropriately about sexual

issues.
• Dramatic change in behavior, either towards the
positive or the negative.
• Resuming behaviors that student has already
grown out of.
• Excessive worry or fearfulness.
• Distracted or Distant.
• Personal hygiene.
• Substance abuse.
RESOURCES • Rainn/ Need help?
Call 800.656.HOPE (4673) to be
connected with a trained staff
member from a sexual assault
service provider in your area.
• La Crosse County Crime Victim
Resources. Local Resources for
Victims. La Crosse County DA’s Victim Services
 333 Vine Street, Rm. 1100
 La Crosse, WI 54601
 Phone: (608) 785-5750
 Fax: (608) 789-4853
 Victim/Witness Coordinator: Donna Walters
 donna.walters@da.wi.gov
 STRATEGIES TO HELP STUDENTS COPE.

• Maintain the student's normal status within the class. Do not treat them differently from the rest of the
class or do things that will set them apart from their peers.
• Maintain consistency and practicability in the classroom routine, your teaching style and in your
expectations of their behavior and performance.
• Abused students and those undergoing significant family upheaval will benefit from structure built into
activities, lessons and set work. These students may need direction from you about what to do until they
can again mobilize their own resources.
• Respect and maintain the student's privacy. A major fear of abused students is that their abuse will become
common knowledge within the school.
• Clearly define what is acceptable behavior. Disruptive or anti-social (which may include sexual promiscuity
if the student has been sexually assaulted) behavior should be consistently discouraged and appropriate
behavior encouraged.
• Develop a sense of belonging in the classroom where students can feel included and accepted. Seat the
abused student with friends or other caring and supportive students and foster the development of peer
relationships.
• Look for opportunities to incorporate specific self-esteem activities and positive learning strategies within
your daily program. Activities which include concepts of co-operative learning, peer support and cross age
tutoring can be useful. Self-esteem resource references may provide further suggestions.
• Give students information or feedback about themselves to assist their positive development of their
identity. For example, 'You are someone who makes friends easily'. 'You really try hard to solve difficult
problems'. 'You are always on time'.
• Respect students' personal space. Show you care by refraining from touching. (It may be misinterpreted by
the student). Instead, use other forms of encouragement such as smiles or nods.
• Model an appropriate child/adult relationship by establishing sound adult/child behavioral boundaries and
adhering to them consistently.
 STATISTICS

• In a 2012 maltreatment report, of the victims who were sexually abused, 26% were in the
age group of 12–14 years and 34% were younger than 9 years. 9
• Approximately 1.8 million adolescents in the United States have been the victims of sexual
assault. 4
• Research conducted by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that
approximately 1 in 6 boys and 1 in 4 girls are sexually abused before the age of 18. 1
• 35.8% of sexual assaults occur when the victim is between the ages of 12 and 17. 1
• 82% of all juvenile victims are female. 5
• 69% of the teen sexual assaults reported to law enforcement occurred in the residence of
the victim, the offender, or another individual. 5
• Teens 16 to 19 years of age were 3 ½ times more likely than the general population to be
victims of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault.6
• Approximately 1 in 5 female high school students report being physically and/or sexually
abused by a dating partner. 7
 CITES:
HTTPS://WWW.SECASA.COM.AU/INDEX.PHP/PAGES/HELPING-THE-ABUSED-STUDENT-
IN-THE-CLASSROOM/

HTTPS://WWW.DOJ.STATE.WI.US/OCVS/LOCAL-RESOURCES/LA-CROSSE-COUNTY

HTTPS://WWW.AACAP.ORG/AACAP/FAMILIES_AND_YOUTH/RESOURCE_CENTERS/C
HILD_ABUSE_RESOURCE_CENTER/HOME.ASPX

HTTPS://WWW.RAINN.ORG/ABOUT-NATIONAL-SEXUAL-ASSAULT-TELEPHONE-
HOTLINE

HTTPS://WWW.NSOPW.GOV/EN-US/EDUCATION/FACTSSTATISTICS