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SOME FACTS FROM THE KNOWLEDGE BASE
From Chapter 2: THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SAM MODEL

NOTE: Please refer to the book's reference section for more than 1500 reports on childhood sexual abuse and associated topics.

ABUSE EFFECTS

When compared to non-abused peers, male and female (and, in many instances, sexually abused females), boys, adolescent males and adult males with histories of childhood sexual abuse are significantly more likely to experience:

• Suicidal ideation and/or attempts
• Protracted discharge of stress-responsive chemicals
• Structural and functional abnormalities within the brain and central nervous system
• Depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress
• Panic attacks, dissociation, derealization and depersonalization
• Sleep disturbances and night terrors
• Generalized body pain, gastrointestinal disturbances and headaches
• Anal and genital abnormalities
• The world as a random, malevolent and hurtful place in which to live
• Self-injurious behavior, mutilation, excessive tattooing and piercing
• Substance abuse and eating disorders
• Involuntary discharge of urine and fecal matter
• Negative views of self, others and the world
• Academic and workplace difficulties
• Distress reactions to demonstrations of affection
• Social apprehension and avoidance
• Difficulties within intimate relationships
• Confusion between gender identity and sexual orientation
• Sexual problems, gender shame and sexual anxiety
• HIV-risk behaviors and
• Hypermasculine risk-taking behaviors, among many other biological, psychological and sociological effects of childhood sexual abuse.

Sexual abuse effects tend to progress in a step-wise manner. That is, boys, adolescent males and adult males with histories of childhood sexual abuse evidence more negative symptomology with the progression of time.

We must do all we can as a society to prevent childhood sexual abuse. Further, we must create an environment where children can disclose their experience of childhood sexual abuse without undue fear, where they can find life-affirming validation in their truth, and where they can heal from its effects with our empathy, love and support.