Consequences of childhood and adolescent sexual violence

Sexual violence in childhood and adolescence affects the well-being and development of victims, and contributes significantly to the overall burden of disease1. Some consequences may be immediate, while others may appear or persist into adulthood.

In Canada, in 2021, sexual violence before the age of 15, involving physical contact, contributed to 0.03% of deaths and 0.29% of years lived with disability (YLDs). Worldwide, in 2021, it ranked 48th among causes of death and 30th among risk factors having the greatest impact on years lived with disability2.

Sexual violence during childhood and adolescence can also occur at the same time as other negative experiences, such as other forms of violence experienced within the family or at school (e.g., exposure to domestic violence, physical abuse) or family difficulties (e.g., a parent's substance abuse problems). This combination of experiences can exacerbate the consequences3–5.

Consequences for mental health

  • Anxiety4,6–13
  • Behavioural disorders, impulsivity, and risk-taking behaviour 7,10,13,25
  • Body image dissatisfaction16
  • Depression4,6–11,13–15
  • Eating disorders, borderline or antisocial personality disorders, schizophrenia 7,9,11–13,24
  • Emotional, affective and psychological distress and difficulties (e.g., distress, despair, anger, attachment difficulties, identity disturbances)4,12,14–17
  • Feelings of shame and guilt7,16
  • Lower self-esteem19
  • Post-traumatic stress (e.g., dissociation, flashbacks, avoidance of risky situations, intrusive thoughts, nightmares, hypervigilance, irritability)4,7–12,14,16,23
  • Problem gambling21,22
  • Self-harm4,12,13
  • Suicidal ideation and behaviour4,7,10,12–14,20
  • Use of psychoactive substances, including abuse of or dependence on these substances (e.g., alcohol, cannabis, tobacco, cocaine, opioids, other drugs)4,7,10–14,18

Consequences for physical and sexual health 

  • Altered knowledge, perceptions and beliefs about sexuality (e.g., judgmental attitudes towards sexuality, disgust towards sexuality)16,26
  • Diseases (asthma, cancer, heart disease, etc.)3,13,33
  • Early or unwanted pregnancies (including in adolescence) and reproductive and obstetrical problems (e.g., miscarriage, distress during labour and delivery)7,13,16,27
  • Risky or compulsive sexual behaviours (e.g., sexual activities initiated earlier, multiple sexual partners, sex without a condom, injection drug use during sex, hypersexuality, inability to control sexual urges and behaviours)4,12,16,26,27
  • Sexual dysfunctions and difficulties (e.g., sexual dissatisfaction, difficulty achieving orgasm, problems with sexual desire or arousal, genital or sexual pain, erectile dysfunction, sexual distress, sexual aversion)16,28–31
  • Sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections4,7,13,32
  • Somatic problems (e.g., urinary incontinence during sleep in children, digestive problems, headaches or stomach-aches, chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, migraines, weight loss, insomnia)6,7,15

Relational, social, and economic consequences

  • Difficulties at school (e.g., dropping out of school, poorer academic performance) and at work (e.g., job insecurity, financial instability)4,5,34,35
  • Externalizing behaviour problems (e.g., aggressive behaviour, physical fighting, school suspension, delinquency)4,6,7
  • Loss of family ties and difficulty maintaining family ties9
  • Lower levels of education and income35
  • Relationship and parental difficulties (e.g., relationship or parental dissatisfaction, relationship conflicts, difficulty forming and maintaining intimate relationships)7,10,16,36,37
  • Social isolation6

The consequences listed above are presented in alphabetical order, regardless of frequency or severity.

References

  1. Xiong, P., Y. Chen, M. Liu, Z. Han et Y. Liu (2025). « Global burden of diseases attributable to childhood sexual abuse and bullying: findings from 1990 to 2019 and predictions to 2035 », Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, [en ligne], <https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-025-02863-x&gt; (consulté le 22 mai 2025).
  2. Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation « GBD Results », dans Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, [en ligne], <https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results&gt; (consulté le 27 mai 2025).
  3. Hu, Z., A. C. Kaminga, J. Yang, J. Liu et H. Xu (2021). « Adverse childhood experiences and risk of cancer during adulthood: A systematic review and meta-analysis », Child abuse & neglect, vol. 117, p. 105088.
  4. Woolweaver, A. B., N. Abu Khalaf, D. L. Espelage, Z. Zhou, R. Reynoso Marmolejos, M. Calnan et R. Mirsen (2024). « Outcomes Associated with Adolescent Dating and Sexual Violence Victimization: A Systematic Review of School-Based Literature », Trauma, Violence & Abuse, vol. 25, n° 4, p. 2781‑2796.
  5. Mitchell, J. M., K. A. Becker-Blease et R. N. Soicher (2021). « Child Sexual Abuse, Academic Functioning and Educational Outcomes in Emerging Adulthood », Journal of child sexual abuse, vol. 30, n° 3, p. 278‑297.
  6. Dunn, E. C., K. Nishimi, A. Neumann, A. Renaud, C. A. M. Cecil, E. S. Susser et H. Tiemeier (2020). « Time-Dependent Effects of Exposure to Physical and Sexual Violence on Psychopathology Symptoms in Late Childhood: In Search of Sensitive Periods in Development », Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, vol. 59, n° 2, p. 283-295.e284.
  7. Barsalou-Verge, X., M. M. Gagnon, R. Séguin et C. Dagenais (2015). « Current Knowledge on Child Sexual Abuse in Indigenous Populations of Canada and the United States: A Literature Review », American Indian Culture & Research Journal, vol. 39, n° 3, p. 65‑82.
  8. MacGregor, K. E., L. Villalta, V. Clarke, R. Viner, T. Kramer et S. N. Khadr (2019). « A systematic review of short and medium-term mental health outcomes in young people following sexual assault », Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, vol. 31, n° 3, p. 161‑181.
  9. Vallieres, F., B. Gilmore, A. Nolan, P. Maguire, K. Bondjers, O. McBride, J. Murphy, M. Shevlin, T. Karatzias et P. Hyland (2022). « Sexual violence and its associated psychosocial effects in Ireland », Journal of Interpersonal Violence, vol. 37, n° 11‑12, p. NP9066‑NP9088.
  10. Helmus, L. M., et A. Kyne (2023). « Prevalence, Correlates, and Sequelae of Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) among Indigenous Canadians: Intersections of Ethnicity, Gender, and Socioeconomic Status », International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 20, n° 9.
  11. Hailes, H. P., R. Yu, A. Danese et S. Fazel (2019). « Long-term outcomes of childhood sexual abuse: An umbrella review », The Lancet Psychiatry, vol. 6, n° 10, p. 830‑839.
  12. Hashim, M., N. Iqbal, S. Halligan, Z. Alimoradi, M. Pfaltz, S. R. Farooqi, I. Khan, C. A. Galan et P. Vostanis (2024). « Association of Childhood Sexual Abuse with Adolescent’s Psychopathology: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis », Trauma, Violence & Abuse, p. 15248380241281365.
  13. Spencer, C. N., M. Khalil, M. Herbert, A. Y. Aravkin, A. Arrieta, M. J. Baeza, F. Bustreo, J. Cagney, R. J. C. Calderon-Anyosa, S. Carr, J. K. Chandan, C. V. N. Coll, F. M. D. de Andrade, G. N. de Andrade, A. N. Debure, L. S. Flor, B. Hammond, S. I. Hay, F. N. Knaul, R. Q. H. Lim, S. A. McLaughlin, S. Minhas, J. K. Mohr, E. C. Mullany, C. J. L. Murray, E. M. O’Connell, V. Patwardhan, S. Reinach, D. Scott, R. J. D. Sorenson, C. Stein, H. Stockl, A. Twalibu, N. Vasconcelos, P. Zheng, N. Metheny, J. S. Chandan et E. Gakidou (2023). « Health effects associated with exposure to intimate partner violence against women and childhood sexual abuse: a burden of proof study », Nature Medicine, vol. 29, n° 12, p. 3243‑3258.
  14. Bochicchio, L., M. Xu, C. B. Veldhuis, C. McTavish et T. L. Hughes (2024). « Mental health and substance use among sexual minority women who report childhood sexual abuse: A systematic literature review », Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, vol. 16, n° Suppl 1, p. S163‑S180.
  15. Jacobsen, S. A., L. Frostholm, C. B. Buhmann, M. W. Petersen, E. Ornbol, T. M. Dantoft, A. A. Bjerregaard, L. F. Eplov et T. B. W. Carstensen (2023). « Are Sexual Assaults Related to Functional Somatic Disorders? A Cross-Sectional Study », International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 20, n° 20.
  16. Denis, I., M. Brennstuhl et C. Tarquinio (2020). « The consequences of sexual trauma on the sexuality of victims: A systematic review of the literature », Sexologies: European Journal of Sexology and Sexual Health / Revue européenne de sexologie et de santé sexuelle, vol. 29, n° 4, p. 198‑217.
  17. Kouvelis, G., et M. Kangas (2021). « Evaluating the association between interpersonal trauma and self-identity: A systematic review », Traumatology, vol. 27, n° 2, p. 118‑148.
  18. Fletcher, K. (2021). « A systematic review of the relationship between child sexual abuse and substance use issues », Journal of Child Sexual Abuse: Research, Treatment, & Program Innovations for Victims, Survivors, & Offenders, vol. 30, n° 3, p. 258‑277.
  19. Okunlola, O. B., J. A. Odukoya et A. M. Gesinde (2021). « Outcomes of sexual abuse on self-esteem among adolescents: A systematic review », Cogent Social Sciences, vol. 7, n° 1, p. 1‑16.
  20. Nicholas, A., K. Krysinska et K. E. King (2022). « A rapid review to determine the suicide risk and risk factors of men who are survivors of sexual assault », Psychiatry Research, vol. 317, p. 1‑9.
  21. Dion, J., M. Cantinotti, A. Ross et D. Collin-Vezina (2015). « Sexual abuse, residential schooling and probable pathological gambling among Indigenous Peoples », Child Abuse & Neglect, vol. 44, p. 56‑65.
  22. Lane, W., P. Sacco, K. Downton, E. Ludeman, L. Levy et J. K. Tracy (2016). « Child maltreatment and problem gambling: A systematic review », Child Abuse & Neglect, vol. 58, p. 24‑38.
  23. Blackburn, A. M., J. B. Bystrynski, A. Rieger, R. C. Garthe, M. Piasecki et N. E. Allen (2023). « Sexual assault revictimization among sexual minority individuals: A systematic review and meta-analysis », Psychology of Violence, vol. 13, n° 4, p. 286‑296.
  24. Vanwoerden, S., J. Leavitt, M. W. Gallagher, J. R. Temple et C. Sharp (2019). « Dating violence victimization and borderline personality pathology: Temporal associations from late adolescence to early adulthood », Personality Disorders, vol. 10, n° 2, p. 132‑142.
  25. Tasharrofi, S., et J. Barnes (2019). « Carrying the misery to adulthood: The impact of childhood sexual abuse on adulthood impulse control through depression and suicidal thoughts », Criminal Justice Studies, vol. 32, n° 3, p. 239‑263.
  26. Slavin, M. N., A. A. J. Scoglio, G. R. Blycker, M. N. Potenza et S. W. Kraus (2020). « Child Sexual Abuse and Compulsive Sexual Behavior: A Systematic Literature Review », Current Addiction Reports, vol. 7, n° 1, p. 76‑88.
  27. Noll, J. G. (2021). « Child sexual abuse as a unique risk factor for the development of psychopathology: The compounded convergence of mechanisms », Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, vol. 17, p. 439‑464.
  28. Asci, O., M. Demirgoz Bal et F. Kocoglu (2024). « The impact of childhood sexual abuse on adult female sexual function and sexual distress: A systematic review and meta-analysis », Turk Psikiyatri Dergisi, vol. 35, n° 1, p. 63‑74.
  29. Dugan, S. A., K. Karavolos, Y. Zhang, E. Avery, I. Janssen, M. Farhi, S. D. Harlow et H. M. Kravitz (2023). « Childhood sexual abuse and pelvic floor dysfunction in midlife women in the study of women’s health across the nation », Journal of Women’s Health, vol. 32, n° 3, p. 293‑299.
  30. Islas-Preciado, D., K. Flores-Celis, J. Gonzalez-Olvera et E. Estrada-Camarena (2021). « Effect of physical and sexual violence during childhood and/or adolescence on the development of menstrual related mood disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis », Salud Mental, vol. 44, n° 3, p. 145‑153.
  31. Wang, S.-J., J.-J. Chang, L.-L. Cao, Y.-H. Li, M.-Y. Yuan, G.-F. Wang et P.-Y. Su (2023). « The relationship between child sexual abuse and sexual dysfunction in adults: A meta-analysis », Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, vol. 24, n° 4, p. 2772‑2788.
  32. Fix, R. L., L. C. Assini-Meytin et P. D. Le (2019). « Gender and race informed pathways from childhood sexual abuse to sexually transmitted infections: A moderated mediation analysis using nationally representative data », Journal of Adolescent Health, vol. 65, n° 2, p. 267‑273.
  33. Jakubowski, K. P., V. Murray, N. Stokes et R. C. Thurston (2021). « Sexual violence and cardiovascular disease risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis », Maturitas, vol. 153, p. 48‑60.
  34. Ochoa, M. K., et K. Constantin (2023). « Impacts of child sexual abuse: The mediating role of future orientation on academic outcomes », Child Abuse & Neglect, vol. 145, p. 1‑9.
  35. Assini-Meytin, L. C., E. J. Thorne, M. Sanikommu, K. M. Green et E. J. Letourneau (2022). « Impact of child sexual abuse on socioeconomic attainment in adulthood », Journal of Adolescent Health, vol. 71, n° 5, p. 594‑600.
  36. Vitek, K. N., et E. A. Yeater (2021). « The Association Between a History of Sexual Violence and Romantic Relationship Functioning: A Systematic Review », Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, vol. 22, n° 5, p. 1221‑1232.
  37. Williams, J. E., W. Gifford, B. Vanderspank-Wright et J. C. Phillips (2021). « Violence and Health Promotion Among First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Women: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Research », Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, vol. 22, n° 5, p. 996‑1012.

Authors: Maude Lachapelle, Scientific Advisor, and Claudia Savard, Specialized Scientific Advisor, INSPQ

External review: Roxanne Guyon, Sexologist and Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Université Laval | Malorie Comtois, Social Worker and Clinical Specialist in sexual violence at Juripop

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