Effects of Childhood Sexual Abuse into Adulthood Childhood abuse is a serious problem in today's society. Many people have been victims of child abuse. There are three forms of child abuse: physical, emotional and sexual. Many researchers believe that sexual abuse is the most harmful of the three. A middle-aged adult who feels depressed probably won't connect it to his childhood, but perhaps he should. The short-term effects of childhood sexual abuse have been proven to be valid, but now the question is: do the long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse affect middle-aged adults? Many contradictory opinions emerge from the topic of childhood sexual abuse. Researchers and psychologists discuss this topic. Childhood sexual abuse has the potential to harm a child physically, emotionally, and behaviorally for the remainder of his or her childhood, and the effects have been linked to persistence into middle adulthood. Research has been conducted on what types of children are most at risk of being sexually abused. Childhood abuse is more likely to occur among children from certain backgrounds. One researcher states that “Child sexual abuse occurs more frequently in children from socially deprived and disorganized family backgrounds. Marital dysfunction, as evidenced by parental separation and domestic violence, is associated with higher risks of child sexual abuse" (Mullen 4). Mullen goes on to state that “The possibility has been raised that characteristics such as physical attractiveness, temperament, or physical maturity may increase the risk of children being sexually abused” (4). Many researchers link behavioral problems in adulthood to childhood abuse. One researcher states that “An adult who was sexually abused as a child is more likely to become violent, suicidal, and abusive towards their children than an adult who was not sexually abused as a child” (Kliest 155). These characteristics may prevent the victim from living a normal lifestyle and having a family. Kliest further states, “Adults who were sexually abused as children will be more likely to experience sexual dysfunction, such as flashbacks, difficulties with arousal, and phobic reactions to sexual intimacy” (156). Many researchers agree that childhood sexual abuse has a negative effect on an adult's personal relationships. Another researcher states, “A history of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) appears to negatively impact the quality of intimate adult relationships, and they report avoiding developing close adult relationships due to fear of rejection” (Whiffen 1103).