Sexual Abuse

Child sexual abuse generally refers to sexual acts, sexually motivated behaviors, or sexual exploitation involving children. Child sexual abuse includes a wide range of behaviors, such as:

Oral, anal, or genital penile penetration
Anal or genital digital or other penetration
Genital contact with no intrusion
Fondling of a child's breasts or buttocks
Indecent exposure
Inadequate or inappropriate supervision of a child's voluntary sexual activities
Use of a child in prostitution, pornography, Internet crimes, or other sexually exploitative activities

Sexual abuse includes both touching offenses (fondling or sexual intercourse) and nontouching offenses (exposing a child to pornographic materials) and can involve varying degrees of violence and emotional trauma. The most commonly reported cases involve incest, or sexual abuse occurring among family members, including those in biological families, adoptive families, and stepfamilies. Incest most often occurs within a father-daughter relationship; however, mother-son, father-son, and sibling-sibling incest also occurs. Sexual abuse is also sometimes committed by other relatives or caretakers.¹

¹Adapted from J. Goldman, M. K. Salus, D. Wolcott, and K. Y. Kennedy. (2003). A coordinated response to child abuse and neglect: The foundation for practice. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved June 2006 from http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/usermanuals/foundation/foundationc.cfm (back)

Spotlight On

Maltreatment Types of Victims, 2008
Children's Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2010)
In Child Maltreatment 2008
Provides State-by-State data related to the major types of child abuse and neglect.

What Is Child Maltreatment?
Office on Child Abuse and Neglect (HHS) User Manual Series (2003)
In A Coordinated Response to Child Abuse and Neglect: The Foundation for Practice
Presents general definitions by type of maltreatment.

Sexual Abuse

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