CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES ON THE CHILD'S LIFE

Abstract

This article aimes to analyze the consequences of childhood sexual abuse, focusing on its psychological, social, and educational impacts. The choice of focusing exclusively on childhood is justified by the need to demonstrate that the impacts of this violence are not limited to adulthood, but already manifest themselves immediately and concretely in childhood experiences. The research was conducted through a narrative literature review of academic databases, including publications in Portuguese between 2005 and 2025 that specifically addressed child sexual abuse. Studies reveal that violence compromises children's emotional balance, triggering feelings of fear, shame, and insecurity, as well as symptoms of anxiety, depression, and the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder. In terms of social relationships, it was found that many victims experience withdrawal, isolation, and difficulty building bonds, which weakens family, school, and community interactions. In schools, declines in performance, dropout rates, and stigmatization were observed, highlighting that schools still lack the preparation to recognize and intervene appropriately in these cases. It is concluded that tackling child sexual abuse requires coordinated actions that combine prevention, professional training and strengthening of protection networks, ensuring children a safe, healthy and dignified development environment.