Associated outcomes
Not all people who experience child maltreatment have the same outcomes.
Sexual abuse and emotional abuse are the most harmful types of child maltreatment. Multi-type maltreatment is also strongly associated with more damaging outcomes. However, maltreatment does not mean someone is destined to have adverse outcomes.
Outcomes depend on many factors, including:
01
The severity and frequency of the abuse
02
The child’s characteristics
03
Protective factors in the family
04
Protective factors at school and in the community
The harmful outcomes of child maltreatment begin in childhood, and are typically lifelong.
Children and young people who do not experience child maltreatment have much lower prevalence of mental disorders and health risk behaviours.
In contrast, young people aged 16-24 who experienced any child maltreatment are:
2.9
times more likely to have any mental disorder
2.7
times more likely to have major depressive disorder
3.3
times more likely to have generalised anxiety disorder
4.1
times more likely to have severe alcohol use disorder
5.8
times more likely to have post-traumatic stress disorder
6.5
times more likely to be dependent on cannabis
4.5
times more likely to have attempted suicide in the past 12 months
3.5
times more likely to have self-harmed in the past 12 months
18.5%
All Australians aged 16+
13.7%
11.7%
Aged 16-24
18.2%
17.9%
Aged 25-44
14.1%
20.6%
Aged 45 or more
12.1%
How have trends changed in perpetration of child sexual abuse?
Comparing three generations of Australians (ages 45+ v 25-44 v 16-24) shows a marked shift.
-
In previous generations, it was more common for child sexual abuse to be inflicted by an adult than an adolescent.
-
In contemporary Australia, it is more common for child sexual abuse to be inflicted by an adolescent than an adult.
-
Child sexual abuse by adults is still a major problem.
-
However, child sexual abuse by adolescents has increased.
Parents/adult family members
7.8%
11.9%
3.2%
Institutional adults
2.0%
1.3%
2.7%
Other known adults
7.5%
10.3%
4.3%
Unknown adults
4.9%
6.4%
3.1%
Known adolescents aged under 18 (never romantically involved)
10.0%
13.1%
6.5%
Known adolescents aged under 18 (current or former romantic partner)
2.5%
4.3%
0.6%
Siblings
1.6%
2.3%
0.8%
Unknown adolescents
1.4%
2.0%
0.5%
Who inflicts child sexual abuse in Australia?
Percentages indicate the proportion of all people aged 16+ who have experienced CSA by the stated type of perpetrator.
Societal level
Recalibrate broad policy settings to support families through housing, taxation, parental leave, and access to childcare and early childhood education.
Community level
Educate health and education practitioners to identify maltreatment and provide trauma-informed responses.
Individual level
Support parents in prenatal and postnatal periods and in early childhood; embed national school curricula fostering comprehensive sexuality and respectful relationships education.
