Children of all ages, from babies to adolescents, may be sexually abused. Child sexual abuse may occur once or many times over a period of months or years.

Children find it difficult to tell anyone they have been abused. They often feel shame and are told by their abusers that they willl be hated, rejected, or disbelieved if they tell. Also, if the abuser threatens the child or someone the child loves, the child may not question the abuser's power to carry out the threat.

Children want to tell about their abuse so it can stop, but they often fear they will not be believed or protected. It's not uncommon for children to delay reporting their abuse for a year or more after it has happened. Victims are more likely to come forward if another victim discloses abuse by the same offender or if asked direct questions about the possibility of abuse.

In the case of incest especially, victims may not disclose their abuse until they become adults and many may never tell. Abusers manipulate their victims by enforcing secrecy; they create in the child a sense of fear of destroying privacy and security provided by family.

Less than 2 percent of all allegations are false; in cases where children appear to have made false accusations, it was usually the result of adult manipulation.

False denials of sexual abuse (claiming abuse did not happen when it did) and recanting disclosure (denying abuse after having told someone about it) is far more common than false allegations.

Because they fear the impact that disclosure will have on the family, children often recant truthful allegations of abuse.

Adults' reactions to disclosure significantly impact how the child comes to view his/her abuse and his/her role in it. (See The Effects of Sexual Abuse.)

Adult women sexually molested as children are more likely than non-victims to suffer both physical and psychological problems.

Adult men who were sexually abused as children are prone to depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. Those who were repeatedly sexually abused and who also suffered emotional abuse often have poor mental health and report interest in or sexual contact with children.

Sexual abuse victims who were also physically and emotionally abused as children are the most likely to suffer health problems and further abuse as adults.

Most offenders are known to their victims. It's estimated that about 25 percent of offenders are adolescents.

Adolescent males who sexually abuse younger children are likely to continue to do so into adulthood without assessment and appropriate treatment.

Most abusers are male.

It is abusers who initiate sexual activity and who are solely responsible for the abuse, regardless of a child's actions or participation.

A recent Canadian study revealed that in excess of 40 percent of convicted child molesters where themselves sexually abused as children. These abusers tended to choose victims close to the age at which they were first abused.

Abusers use various forms of physical and psychological coercion to ensure their victims' silence, including threats and bribery.

Some offenders abuse more than 70 children before the victims disclose their abuse. In cases where the offender has abused a large number of victims, the abused children are more likely to be male.

Abusers are found among all ages, ethnocultural communities, and social classes.

Most sexual abuse takes place within the context of an ongoing relationship between the abuser and the child (e.g., teacher/student, coach/player, parent/child). These types of relationships allow the abuser to exploit the child's desires and fears.