Predisposing Factors and Impact of Child Victimization: A Qualitative Study

Siti Nor Ain Wahid Satar,Nik Hussain Nik Hazlina,Azizah Othman,Zaharah Sulaiman,Mohd Noor Norhayati,Lili Husniati Yaacob

doi:10.3390/ijerph18179373

Siti Nor Ain Wahid Satar, Nik Hussain Nik Hazlina + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18179373

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Abstract

Sexual abuse of children is increasing at an alarming rate. This study aims to describe the risk factors and the effects of sexual abuse on children. This unobtrusive qualitative study was conducted on children aged 10 to 18 years old who experienced sexual abuse and followed-up at a psychiatric clinic between the years 2019 and 2021. The information from case records was transcribed. Thematic analysis was performed. Thirty case records were reviewed. The mean age of the victims was 14.6 years; 94% of the victims had experienced vaginal penetration, and 23% of the cases involved incest. The results indicated that socio-psychological predisposing factors involving family structure and dynamic dysfunction, low intrapersonal strength, social influence, and low family socioeconomic status could lead to sexual victimization. This sexual victimization can then lead to emotional turmoil, negative effects on cognitive, academic and social function, negative parental reactions toward the incident, the creation of baby–mother relationships and love–hate relationships, and a lack of goals and hope for the future. Children who experienced sexual abuse may show rape or pregnancy symptoms but may also show entirely non-specific ones. A thorough examination of their history, including biopsychosocial aspects, is necessary to appropriately care for them.

Highlights

Violence against children is defined as all forms of violence against children below18 years old, including child maltreatment, physical, emotional or sexual abuse, and neglect by their guardians
We found that a pathological and dysfunctional family dynamic contributed to family conflicts, parental violence, less emotional bonding, and the presence of other forms of child abuse like physical abuse and domestic violence
We found that child sexual abuse can significantly affect the family environment due to societal and cultural embarrassment

Summary

Introduction

Violence against children is defined as all forms of violence against children below18 years old, including child maltreatment, physical, emotional or sexual abuse, and neglect by their guardians. The sexual abuse of a child is defined as any sexual activity conducted with a child who is below the age of legal consent for sexual gratification of an adult or a substantially older child. These activities include oral–genital, genital–genital, genital–rectal, hand–genital, hand–rectal, or hand–breast contact, exposure of sexual anatomy, forced viewing of sexual anatomy or pornography, or using a child in the production of pornography [3]. The World Health Organization classifies child sexual abuse as a silent health emergency [4] Still, it remains a neglected social issue, especially in cases of incest, even though most reported incest victims are children [5]. Data from a meta-analysis study showed that victims of intra-familial sexual abuse were younger than the victims of extra-familial abuse [6]

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