How Sexual Violence Affects People

Sexual violence is a complex issue that affects not only survivors of sexual assault and abuse but also their family, friends, and communities. It can impact people in different ways depending on the type and severity of the assault as well as other factors including gender, culture, age, and ability to access services and resources. Those who experience sexual assault and abuse are often invisible and may struggle to find safe, trustworthy sources of support. However, there are a number of signs you can look out for if someone you know is experiencing sexual violence.

Survivors of sexual assault and abuse can experience a variety of emotional, psychological, and physical reactions. These can be short-term or long-term and may include a wide range of emotions such as fear, guilt, anger, self-blame, sadness, anxiety and depression. In addition, survivors may have difficulties coping with the impact of sexual violence on their day-to-day lives such as difficulty sleeping or concentration, physical symptoms related to areas of the body affected by sexual assault or violence, and withdrawal from friends and social activities.

Many perpetrators of sexual violence use force to coerce victims into non-consensual sex and other sexual acts. This force can be physical, but it often involves emotional or psychological pressure and manipulation. Almost eight out of 10 sexual assaults and rapes are committed by someone known to the victim such as an intimate partner or acquaintance, and a large percentage of these incidents involve sexual coercion with force.

A major effect of sexual assault is a loss of trust in others. Survivors can struggle to trust themselves and can have difficulty determining who they can trust, and this can lead to isolation. This is especially common in cases where a person was injured or contracted a sexually transmitted infection as a result of their assault or abuse.

Victims of sexual violence can often feel alienated from their bodies and experiences a sense of betrayal. They may develop somatic (body) complaints such as headaches, stomachaches, nausea, and other physical discomforts and can also experience problems with eating or have trouble concentrating. In addition, they may seek out experiences that offer a more intense physical sensation like self-injury.

Depending on their individual cultural background, some survivors may experience different feelings of shame or guilt. Sociocentric cultures where the dignity of the group is placed above that of the individual tend to give rise to a more social feeling of shame while ego-centric cultures that place importance on the identity of the individual may produce a more private feeling of guilt.

It is important to remember that there is no “right way” for anyone to react to sexual violence or sex abuse. Some victims may decide to tell others immediately, while others will wait weeks, months or even years before talking about their experience.

Survivors of sexual violence can be from any walk of life and can include men, women, boys, girls, cisgender people, transgender people, and those with disabilities. People living in vulnerable situations, such as those who are homeless, can be more susceptible to sexual assault and sex abuse.