Childhood Abuse & Dating/Domestic Violence....The Connection

I've been asked more than once, why I am serving on a committee to raise money for a Children's Advocacy Center when my platform has been Dating/Domestic Violence Awareness. The answer to this question is simple. There is a link between child abuse and child sexual abuse and dating/domestic violence later in their life. This is why it is called a "cycle" and my platform is "Break the Cycle". Also, just because a child is not the intended victim of domestic violence, does not mean that witnessing the act does not effect them. Just being a witness to domestic violence in their family can have the same effect on children as them being abused themselves. To me, it makes perfect sense to work towards serving abused children, while promoting dating & domestic violence awareness.

Childhood Abuse Facts:
In the US, a report of child abuse is made every 10 seconds.
More than 90% of juvenile sexual sexual abuse victims know their perpetrator in some way.
Child abuse occurs at every socioeconomic level, across all ethnic & cultural lines, and within all religions and levels of education.
About 30% of abused/neglected children will later abuse their own children (continuing the cycle).
Abused children are 25% more likely to experience teen pregnancy.
Abused teens are less likely to practice safe sex.
14% of men in the US in prison were abused as children.
36% of women in the US in prison were abused as children.
Children who experience child abuse & neglect are 59% more likely to be arrested as a juvenile, 28% more likely to be arrested as an adult, and 30% are more likely to commit a violent crime.
As many as 2/3 in treatment for drug abuse report being abused or neglected as children.
***Facts taken from www.childhelp.org***

Childhood Sexual Abuse Facts:
15% of sexual assault & rape victims are under age 12; 29% are age 12-17; 44% are under age 18.
Ages 12-34 are the highest risk years for sexual assault & rape.
Girls ages 16-19 are 4 times more likely than the general population to be victims of rape, attempted rape and/or sexual assault.
7% of girls in grades 5-8 and 12% of girls in grades 9-12 report being sexually abused.
3% of boys in grades 5-8 and 5% of boys in grades 9-12 report being sexually abused.
93% of juvenile sexual assault victims know their attacker (34.2% were family members, 58.7% were acquaintances, only 7% were strangers).
***Facts taken from www.rainn.org***

It has been said that if a child is abused or sexually assaulted, he or she is more likely to be abused and/or sexually assaulted again later during an intimate relationship. A child who is abused, becomes accustomed to the abuse and therefore often times unconsciously look for a mate who is abusive as well. What the mate offers can range anywhere from controlling behavior to physical/sexual violence. When a child has been abused and then dates or marries an abuser, he or she is continuing the cycle of abuse. Most of the children who enter into abusive relationships as a teenager or adult and had been abused themselves, had not received treatment for their childhood abuse. Children who receive help (such as from a Children's Advocacy Center) are less likely to become involved in an abusive relationship later in life, because they have been taught the tools they need to develop healthy relationships and they have been able to confront their feelings about their abuse.

Helping children who have been abused and sexually assaulted is a big part of helping to "Break the Cycle" of dating & domestic violence.