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Sexual Violence: Consequences
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Sexual violence can have harmful and lasting consequences for victims, families, and communities. The following list describes some of those consequences.
Physical
- More than 32,000 pregnancies result from rape every year with the highest rates of rape-induced pregnancy reported by women in abusive relationships1,2
- Some long-term consequences of sexual violence include:3-6, 15
- Chronic pain
- Gastrointestinal disorders
- Gynecological complications
- Migraines and other frequent headaches
- Sexually transmitted infections
- Cervical cancer
- Genital injuries
Psychological
Victims of sexual violence face both immediate and chronic psychological consequences.7-9
Immediate psychological consequences include the following:
- Shock
- Denial
- Fear
- Confusion
- Anxiety
- Withdrawal
- Shame or guilt
- Nervousness
- Distrust of others
- Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder
- Emotional detachment
- Sleep disturbances
- Flashbacks
- Mental replay of assault
Chronic psychological consequences include the following: 10- 14, 16
- Depression
- Generalized anxiety
- Attempted or completed suicide
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Diminished interest/avoidance of sex
- Low self-esteem/self-blame
Social
Sexual violence also has social impacts on its victims, such as the following: 3- 6,17
- Strained relationships with family, friends, and intimate partners
- Less emotional support from friends and family
- Less frequent contact with friends and relatives
- Lower likelihood of marriage
- Isolation or ostracism from family or community
Health Risk Behaviors
Sexual violence victimization is associated with several health risk behaviors.3,12,18-27 Some researchers view the following health behaviors as both consequences of sexual violence and factors that increase a person’s vulnerability to being victimized again in the future.24,28
- Engaging in high-risk sexual behavior
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- Unprotected sex
- Early sexual initiation
- Choosing unhealthy sexual partners
- Having multiple sex partners
- Trading sex for food, money, or other items
- Using harmful substances
- Smoking cigarettes
- Drinking alcohol
- Drinking alcohol and driving
- Taking drugs
- Unhealthy diet-related behaviors
- Fasting
- Vomiting
- Abusing diet pills
- Overeating
- Delinquency and criminal behavior
- Failure to engage in healthy behaviors, such as motor vehicle seat belt use
- Page last reviewed: June 6, 2017
- Page last updated: June 6, 2017
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