Abuse, sexual, of children

Abstract

Child sexual abuse refers to a diverse set of behaviors in which an individual engages a child in sexual activity. Though establishing exact estimates of the prevalence of child sexual abuse is difficult, incidents have been documented across diverse contexts. Individuals who experience sexual abuse in childhood are at an increased risk for a number of negative psychological and behavioral health outcomes. Given the widespread nature of this problem, further research is needed to clarify the prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes of child sexual abuse, particularly in countries outside of North America and Europe.