The Long-Term Effects of Sexual Abuse

It is estimated that 20% of women experience sexual violence before the age of 24, according to a 2016 study by the University of Washington.¹ This number, however, is likely much higher, as there is a long history of victims failing to report assaults. The numbers in relation to college students are particularly daunting. In one study of rape and sexual assault against college women ages 18 to 24 between 1995 and 2013, it was found that on average, 31,302 rapes, attempted rapes, sexual assaults, and threat of rape or sexual assault, occurs annually.²

College students, in particular, fail to report assault due to feelings of shame, guilt, and embarrassment as well as the fear of not being believed. They are also concerned with confidentiality and do not want their family and friends to know.³ Taken together, it is indisputable that the sexual assault and abuse statistics available are extremely underestimated.

Physiological

The most immediate effects of sexual abuse include the physical aftermath, which can have severe, long-term effects on the victim. According to one study, the probability of pregnancy after rape is between 10% to 30%.⁴ In addition, there is the concern of sexually transmitted infections. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, physical injuries from sexual abuse may range from fractures, head and facial trauma, lacerations, or death, the risks of which are multiplied when the assault involves the use of a weapon or drugs and alcohol.⁵

Physical consequences also relate to subsequent psychological effects as well as the financial and emotional burdens of pain and suffering, loss of quality of life, and inability to work.

Psychological

Of course, the psychological impact of abuse cannot be overstated. The emotional burden that victims carry has been well-documented, with outcomes ranging from depression and anxiety to post-traumatic stress disorder.⁶ PTSD can manifest as flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance of certain situations, and depression. By affecting social interactions, PTSD may also increase the likelihood of abuse in the future, a phenomenon termed “revictimization.”⁷ The increase is, in part, due to negative body image, sexual esteem, and sexual depression. Studies have also demonstrated that victims experience difficulty engaging in positive sexual experiences in future relationships.

PTSD impacts about 60% of sexual assault victims, with 45% of rape survivors experiencing the disorder three months after the trauma⁸ with other studies reporting the PTSD symptoms lasting over four years or more.⁹

Sexual abuse can cause a number of other mental illnesses including:

• Social phobias
• Anxiety disorders
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Schizophrenia
• Sleep disorders
• Eating disorders
• Suicide attempts

Financial

Another, perhaps overlooked, consequence of sexual abuse is the financial impact it has on its victims. Along with the physical effects also comes the direct economic loss a victim sustains in wage losses, healthcare costs, and other medical expenses, including those related to psychological treatment and other mental health services. There is also the less easily quantifiable loss of productivity, decreased quality of life, and pain and suffering. It has been estimated that rape results in a financial burden of $87,000 to $240,776.¹⁰ Another study from 1993 found that the average victim sustains $2,200 in productivity losses (which when accounting for inflation, is now much higher).¹¹

A more recent study conducted in Iowa in 2009 found that out of 55,340 individuals who were the victims of sexual abuse – with nearly 75% being female – there was a total estimated cost of $4.7 billion, or $1,580 per resident. The estimate included $265 million in direct losses and $4.44 billion in indirect costs, such as pain and suffering and loss of quality of life. Wage losses accounted for 7% of the total cost – approximately $127 million.¹²

There is also a financial burden on the public as a whole, especially in relation to criminal justice costs. It is estimated that the economy suffers a $3.1 trillion burden over the lifetimes of sexual assault victims, which includes medical costs, lost work productivity, criminal justice activities, and victim property losses.¹³

Loss of Earning Potential 

In terms of long-term costs, being an adolescent at the time of the abuse negatively impacts the victim’s future earnings. This is due to a disruption in the processes of educational and occupational attainment, resulting in diminished investments in educational aspirations and the amount of time and energy the victim is able to put into school work. A French study found that college women who experienced sexual violence reported more delays and failures on assignments, courses, and exams and were more likely to consider dropping out of school.¹⁴

As educational attainment is negatively impacted, so is future job prospects and occupational status, resulting in lower earnings in later adulthood. The younger a victim is at the time of the abuse, the greater the future costs. A lifetime income loss of $241,000 is one estimate.¹⁵

Treatments for the physiological and psychological effects of sexual abuse include:

• Medical evaluations after the incident (such as testing for pregnancy and STIs)
• Ongoing follow-up care with a primary care provider
• Psychiatric counseling
• Cognitive behavioral therapy
  • Studies have shown that women who receive cognitive behavioral therapy early after their assault have a significantly greater reduction in PTSD symptoms. However, after three months, the treatment is found to be ineffective.¹⁶
• Psychotherapy

The success of any treatment plan should also take into account racial and gender-based factors that can affect the efficacy of treatment and the likelihood of revictimization.

Soenen, et al. v. Brown University - Class action lawsuit filed by current and former students who were the victims of camps sexual harassment and assault; claimed that the university failed to protect them from harm. The litigation is still ongoing

Gutierrez v. Oakland Community College, et al. - A lawsuit alleging grooming and sexual assault by a college professor