Sexual Trauma, Causes of

Sexual victimization in the United States and throughout the world is increasing. Depending on the research, estimates of sexual trauma range between 20% and 40% of all women; that is, 20% to 40% of all women will experience some form of sexual assault during their lifetimes. Also depending on the research, approximately 10% to 20% of all males will experience some type of sexual victimization. Women with a history of childhood or adolescent sexual assault have been shown to have an increased risk of subsequent sexual victimization. That increased risk may cause these women to be 10 times more vulnerable to future assaults. Research elucidates that sexual trauma can have serious mental health consequences that can run the spectrum of diagnostic disorders. In addition to ...