• The impact of abuse
• Most common types of abuse
• Most abusers commonly known to the survivor
• A BC snapshot
  

Notes

The impact of abuse

In 1999, the McCreary Adolescent Health Survey II* found that:

• 35% of girls and 16% of boys between grades 7 - 12 had been sexually and/or physically abused
• Among girls surveyed, 17-year-olds experienced the highest rate of sexual abuse at 20%

In their 2001 report on Family Violence in Canada**, The Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics found that children who are exposed to physical violence in their homes are:

• more than twice as likely to be physically aggressive as those who have not had such exposure;
• more likely to commit delinquent acts against property
• more likely to display emotional disorders and hyperactivity

University of Victoria's Sexual Assault Centre*** posts the following childhood sexual abuse statistics:

• 1 in 3 females and 1 in 6 males in Canada experience some form of sexual abuse before the age of 18.
• 80% of all child abusers are the father, foster father, stepfather or another relative or close family friend of the victim.
  
• Incestuous relationships last 7 years on average
  
• 75% of mothers are not aware of the incest in their family
  
• 60-80% of offenders in a study of imprisoned rapists had been molested as children
  
• 80% of prostitutes and juvenile delinquents, in another study, were sexually abused as children.

Most common types of abuse

In their 2001 report on Family Violence in Canada**, The Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics found that:

• 69% of substantiated physical abuse involved inappropriate punishment
• 68% of substantiated sexual abuse involved touching and fondling
• 58% of substantiated emotional maltreatment involved exposure to family violence
• 48% of substantiated cases of neglect primarily involved failure to supervise the child properly, which lead to physical harm

In their 2001 report on Family Violence in Canada**, The Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics found that family members, including relatives, constituted the vast majority (93%) of alleged perpetrators. Another statistical study conducted in 2001 by the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics**** found that:

• among family assaults parents were the perpetrators in 56% of physical assaults against youths and 43% of sexual assaults against youth victims 12 to 17 years of age;
• siblings were responsible for approximately 25% of physical and 26% of sexual assaults in the family that were perpetrated against youth
• extended family members committed 8% of physical, and 28% of sexual assaults against youth

In a snapshot taken on April 17, 2000*****, in British Columbia, there were 689 residents in shelters: 54% were women and 46% were children.

• 82% were women escaping abusive situations
• of the women escaping abuse, 32% indicated they were also protecting their children from psychological abuse, 28% from witnessing abuse of their mother, 13% from threats, 9% from physical abuse, 5% from neglect, and 5% from sexual abuse

• *McCreary Centre Society. Healthy Connections: Listening to BC Youth, 1999, p. 17.
• **Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile 2001, Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, Statistics Canada, 2001 (Catalogue No. 85-224-XIE)
• ***Child Sexual Abuse Statistics, compiled by the National Advisory Council of Women, quoted by University of Victoria's Sexual Assault Centre
• ****Children and Youth in Canada, Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, Statistics Canada, June 2001 (Catalogue no. 85F0033MIE)
• ***** Transition Home Survey 1999 - 2000, British Columbia Fact Sheet, Statistics Canada (Catalogue no. 85-404-MIE)