Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionStatisticsPTSD Diagnosis LimitationsSymptomsIntimacy IssuesOvercoming Sexual TraumaFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Definition
Statistics
PTSD Diagnosis Limitations
Symptoms
Intimacy Issues
Overcoming Sexual Trauma
Frequently Asked Questions
Sexual assault is an event that involves unwanted, non-consensual sexual conduct or behavior toward someone. This includes sexual behaviors toward those who cannot give consent, such as children and those with disabilities.Sexual assaults can be some of the most psychologically damaging forms of trauma and can significantly harm mental well-being.
This article will define sexual trauma, provide statistics for various populations, and discuss short and long-term impacts and ways to heal.
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If you are a survivor of sexual assault, you can contact theRAINN National Sexual Assault Hotlineat 1-800-656-4673 to receive confidential support from a trained staff member at a local RAINN affiliate.
Definition of Sexual Trauma
Broadly defined, sexual assault is any unwanted sexual contact or behavior performed without consent or permission, including non-consent due to age or disability.
Sexual trauma refers to the lasting adverse effects on the survivor due to sexual assault. This includes effects on physical, social, emotional, or spiritual well-being.
Research shows that females aged 12 to 34 are most likely to experience sexual assault. Specific statistics for different subgroups vary within the broader group of sexual assault survivors. In all cases, men are most likely to be the perpetrators of sexual assaults.
In Children
One research survey showed that 18% of high school girls and 12% of high school boys say they experienced an unwanted sexual experience. The prevalence of sexual assaults drastically increases in children with disabilities.
Military
Sexual trauma within the military has received increased attention in recent years. A 2014 study looked at unwanted sexual behavior, which included sexual assault, sexual harassment, and gender discrimination.
In this study, a large-scale survey found that between 18,200 and 22,400 active-duty service members experienced a sexual assault within the prior year, which equates to about 1% of active-duty men and about 5% of active-duty women.
Those who reported being assaulted indicated an average of more than two such incidents in the previous years. Junior enlisted military personnel with a rank between E1 and E4 have the highest rates of sexual assault, both for men and women.
Women
By some estimates, 17% to 25% of women will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime.Similar to children, women are likely to be acquainted with the perpetrator. Some research shows that around 20% of women attending college will experience sexual assault or misconduct.
Sexually assaulted women are more likely to develop PTSD than men, and their symptoms are likely to last much longer than they do for men.
Women are more likely to becomeemotionally numband to psychologically distance themselves from the traumatic experience. These behaviors may come across to others as the survivor not remembering aspects of the event or not wanting to get support or report the incident.
Men
Although men are much less likely to experience sexual assault than women, it still occurs. By some estimates, around 1% to 3% of men are sexually assaulted. The perpetrator is also male for most men who are raped.
Sexual Assault and Demographics
The Limitations of Generalizing Trauma As PTSD
Most people who experience trauma like sexual assault do not go on to develop full-blownpost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). If a person is experiencing significant emotional, physical, and functional issues after trauma, a PTSD diagnosis may provide some relief and direction for treatment. However, it might not offer a complete understanding of a person’s experience, especially if the person is experiencing something broader or in addition to PTSD, like depression.
It’s essential to be open and honest with a mental health professional to receive the proper treatment for you.
Trauma Treatment MethodTrauma treatment should never be re-traumatizing. There are manytreatments for traumathat can help you optimally deal with your experience. Be sure that the mental health professional you work with has training and experience in treating trauma.
Trauma Treatment Method
Trauma treatment should never be re-traumatizing. There are manytreatments for traumathat can help you optimally deal with your experience. Be sure that the mental health professional you work with has training and experience in treating trauma.
Symptoms, Short, and Long-Term Effects
Sexual assaultis often highly traumatic for an individual. In the short term, it is common to experience strong emotional reactions such as:
As time passes, the initial shock might fade. Still, there may be ongoing mental health issues such asanxiety,depression, andhypervigilance(always being on high alert).
Other cognitive symptoms may include:
Additional behavioral issues may include isolation from others, a need to be in control, and avoidance of specific people or places that remind the survivor of the assault.
Sexual Assault and PTSDOne study found that around 12% to 24% of those who experienced a non-sexual assault trauma developed PTSD. However, for survivors of sexual trauma, that number increases to 80%.
Sexual Assault and PTSD
One study found that around 12% to 24% of those who experienced a non-sexual assault trauma developed PTSD. However, for survivors of sexual trauma, that number increases to 80%.
Dealing With Intimacy Issues
It’s normal to have changes in sexual desire after a sexual assault. Intimacy will differ for each person and can range from not wanting to be intimate to being more sexual than was typical before the incident.
Giving yourself time to slowly figure out what you are comfortable with and what is enjoyable is essential. Then, communicate your needs with your partner, and clarify if you want to stop. Talking about intimacy issues with a mental health professional may be helpful.
Steps to Address and Overcome Sexual Trauma
Experiencing sexual trauma can have a significant impact on a survivor’s life. In addition to PTSD, people who have experienced sexual assault are at an increased risk of developing mental illnesses such asbipolar disorder,major depressive disorder, andsubstance use disorder.Though it may be challenging, there are treatment options available.
On Your Own
Experiencing something as traumatic as a sexual assault often causes the survivor to feel alone. As a result, it’s common not to want to tell anyone what happened and feel shame about it. It can also be challenging to think or talk about the incident.
Finding ways to build safety and trust can be a helpful place to start. This might include talking to a reliable person, doing something that offers a sense of control, and engaging in activities that bring enjoyment and a feeling of safety.
Support for Someone Else
Knowing someone has experienced a sexual assault can be very difficult and might bring up feelings such as anger or helplessness. Here are some ways to show support for someone after they’ve been through a trauma:
Therapy
Working with a mental health professional allows you to move at your own pace, receive support in a nonjudgmental and safe environment, and learn tools to promote healing.
When looking for a therapist, find someone trained in trauma with experience working with sexual assault survivors. Remember that a trauma-trained therapist will not ask a person to talk about the details of the traumatic experience or relive the trauma in an overwhelming way.
Find a Support System
Hotlines and Other Resources
For 24/7 confidential and free support, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE. You can also chat with a trained staff member to receive crisis support through theRape, Abuse, & Incest National Network(RAINN) website. Many other resources and support organizations are on the RAINN website.
Summary
Sexual assault is when someone experiences unwanted and non-consensual sexual contact or behavior. Anyone can experience sexual assault, including women, men, children, and service members.
The symptoms of sexual assault vary from person to person but can include initial shock, anger, fear, self-blame, and hyper-alertness. Long-term symptoms can consist of rumination, emotional numbness, and isolation. It’s also common to experience intimacy issues following a sexual assault.
Many types of support are available to sexual assault survivors, including peer support groups, crisis hotlines, and trauma therapy.
A Word From Verywell
If you or a loved one have experienced sexual assault, it’s normal to feel helpless, alone, numb, or unable to remember details of what happened. Know that it wasn’t your fault; there isn’t anything more you should or could have done to make things go differently. It may be difficult to talk about what happened, but try not to isolate yourself from others altogether. Connect with those you can trust, and seek support. Remember that you are not alone; there is help to get you through your trauma.
Hypersexualityis when a person has elevatedlibidoand sexual desire and difficulty controlling sexual impulses. Hypersexuality sometimes occurs after a traumatic experience as the person struggles to come to terms with the incident and tries to cope with deep feelings of shame, guilt, sadness, helplessness, and fear. Hypersexuality after sexual assault doesn’t mean something is wrong with the survivor. It is a symptom of psychological pain.
Treatment after a sexually traumatic experience will look different for different people. For some, the process might start with an exam at the hospital, while others may seek a peer support group. Psychotherapy with a trauma-trained mental health professional may be best for others. Whether you call a crisis hotline, talk to a close friend, or hire a therapist, treatment should go at your pace and help you start taking small steps toward healing.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Dworkin ER, Menon SV, Bystrynski J, Allen NE.Sexual assault victimization and psychopathology: a review and meta-analysis.Clinical Psychology Review. 2017;56:65-81. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2017.06.002Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.Trauma-informed care in behavioral health services.Crawford-Jakubiak JE, Alderman EM, Leventhal JM, et al.Care of the adolescent after an acute sexual assault.Pediatrics. 2017;139(3);e20164243. doi:10.1542/peds.2016-4243Bicksler B, Farris C, Ghosh-Dastidar B, et al.Sexual assault and sexual harassment in the U.S. military: volume 2. Estimates for Department of Defense service members from the 2014 RAND military workplace study.RAND Corporation. 2015:154.Tri-County Women’s Centre.The impact of trauma on adult sexual assault victims.Quidé Y, Cléry H, Andersson F, et al.Neurocognitive, emotional and neuroendocrine correlates of exposure to sexual assault in women.Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience. 2018;43(5):318-326. doi:10.1503/jpn.170116
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Dworkin ER, Menon SV, Bystrynski J, Allen NE.Sexual assault victimization and psychopathology: a review and meta-analysis.Clinical Psychology Review. 2017;56:65-81. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2017.06.002Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.Trauma-informed care in behavioral health services.Crawford-Jakubiak JE, Alderman EM, Leventhal JM, et al.Care of the adolescent after an acute sexual assault.Pediatrics. 2017;139(3);e20164243. doi:10.1542/peds.2016-4243Bicksler B, Farris C, Ghosh-Dastidar B, et al.Sexual assault and sexual harassment in the U.S. military: volume 2. Estimates for Department of Defense service members from the 2014 RAND military workplace study.RAND Corporation. 2015:154.Tri-County Women’s Centre.The impact of trauma on adult sexual assault victims.Quidé Y, Cléry H, Andersson F, et al.Neurocognitive, emotional and neuroendocrine correlates of exposure to sexual assault in women.Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience. 2018;43(5):318-326. doi:10.1503/jpn.170116
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Dworkin ER, Menon SV, Bystrynski J, Allen NE.Sexual assault victimization and psychopathology: a review and meta-analysis.Clinical Psychology Review. 2017;56:65-81. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2017.06.002Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.Trauma-informed care in behavioral health services.Crawford-Jakubiak JE, Alderman EM, Leventhal JM, et al.Care of the adolescent after an acute sexual assault.Pediatrics. 2017;139(3);e20164243. doi:10.1542/peds.2016-4243Bicksler B, Farris C, Ghosh-Dastidar B, et al.Sexual assault and sexual harassment in the U.S. military: volume 2. Estimates for Department of Defense service members from the 2014 RAND military workplace study.RAND Corporation. 2015:154.Tri-County Women’s Centre.The impact of trauma on adult sexual assault victims.Quidé Y, Cléry H, Andersson F, et al.Neurocognitive, emotional and neuroendocrine correlates of exposure to sexual assault in women.Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience. 2018;43(5):318-326. doi:10.1503/jpn.170116
Dworkin ER, Menon SV, Bystrynski J, Allen NE.Sexual assault victimization and psychopathology: a review and meta-analysis.Clinical Psychology Review. 2017;56:65-81. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2017.06.002
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.Trauma-informed care in behavioral health services.
Crawford-Jakubiak JE, Alderman EM, Leventhal JM, et al.Care of the adolescent after an acute sexual assault.Pediatrics. 2017;139(3);e20164243. doi:10.1542/peds.2016-4243
Bicksler B, Farris C, Ghosh-Dastidar B, et al.Sexual assault and sexual harassment in the U.S. military: volume 2. Estimates for Department of Defense service members from the 2014 RAND military workplace study.RAND Corporation. 2015:154.
Tri-County Women’s Centre.The impact of trauma on adult sexual assault victims.
Quidé Y, Cléry H, Andersson F, et al.Neurocognitive, emotional and neuroendocrine correlates of exposure to sexual assault in women.Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience. 2018;43(5):318-326. doi:10.1503/jpn.170116
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