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What are the signs of sexual abuse in adults? This could include the fact that the vulnerable adult is under the perpetrator’s care in a care setting, or the fact that they have been socially isolated or excluded. Perpetrators of adult abuse, neglect and exploitation may also rely on certain circumstances that allow them to continue to abuse or neglect the vulnerable adult without getting caught. This could include lack of mental capacity, inability to differentiate between appropriate and inappropriate behaviour, communication difficulties, physical dependence on others, memory problems, low self-esteem and previous experience of abuse. Vulnerable adults share some common factors that perpetrators of adult abuse, neglect and exploitation take advantage of. This means they are more likely to target the most vulnerable in our society in circumstances where they may be able to do so in secret. Those who commit abuse look for favourable circumstances that allow them to commit abuse without a high risk of getting caught. What factors feature in adult abuse and neglect? It could leave the individual feeling isolated, less trusting of themselves and others, fearing intimacy, and being unable to develop strong emotional bonds. The relational and social impact of adult sexual abuseĮxperiencing sexual abuse in adulthood could also have an impact on the survivor’s relationships and social behaviour.
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Some of the symptoms of PTSD include nightmares, trouble sleeping, flashbacks, disassociation with what happened to them, difficulty remembering events, and hyperarousal (hypervigilance and always being alert). The psychological impact of adult sexual abuseĪs well as physical damage and trauma, people who have experienced adult sexual abuse may find they exhibit psychological problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Increased probability of the individual going on to engage in high-risk sexual behaviour such as unprotected sex with multiple partners.Higher risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs).Gynaecological problems including sexual dysfunction.The abuse could also lead to longer-lasting physical and sexual damage, and you might see the following effects in adults who have been sexually abused: It could cause injury, physical trauma or even death. The physical and sexual health impacts of adult sexual abuseĪdult sexual abuse can have an immediate and direct negative physical impact on the person being abused, particularly if the attack is violent. We’ll cover all these factors in our article below. Typically, sexual abuse affects adults on three levels: the impact on their physical and sexual health the psychological impact the abuse leaves behind and the social and relational impact on the individual.
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What’s more, the extent to which an adult is affected by abuse can vary greatly depending on factors such as their age, gender and personality, the circumstances surrounding the abuse itself, whether or not they seek help and support about what happened to them, what support (if any) they receive from friends and family, and the society and culture in which they live. Contact us for an informal chat with one of our legal experts, no strings attached Get in touch