USU UWLP Releases Research on Child Sexual Abuse

Child sexual abuse is widespread nationally and disproportionately impacts girls and young women. Data indicate that Utah’s rates of child sexual abuse are even higher than national averages.

The Utah State University Utah Women & Leadership Project recently published a research snapshot, “Child Sexual Abuse: What Utahns Need to Know.” The research looks at rates and long-term impacts of child sexual abuse, as well as Utahns’ perceptions of the issue, and makes recommendations for improving prevention in Utah.

The report includes critical information for Utahns to understand about child sexual abuse:

Prevalence

A number of reputable organizations report varying statistics on child sexual abuse. Because it is widely underreported (most individuals do not report being sexually abused until adulthood — if they report at all), researchers agree that rates are likely higher than data suggest.

In Utah, the data indicate a rate of 1 in 7 children — higher than the national average of 1 in 9 — and Utah girls and young women experience an even higher rate of sexual abuse: 1 in 5. Current Utah data do not include sexual abuse that is facilitated by or distributed through online channels, so rates are even higher than reported.

Besides being female, other characteristics may make a child more vulnerable to being sexually abused, including race and ethnicity, sexual minorities, and children with mental or physical disabilities.

According to the U.S. Sentencing Commission, Utah is tied for 5th place for the annual number of individuals sentenced for sexual abuse. However, sexual offense cases have high attrition and notoriously low rates of prosecution. While it is positive that Utah is holding offenders accountable, the cases that reach the sentencing stage represent only a fraction of sexual crimes. In August of 2024, Utah had over 9,000 individuals on the sex offender registry, another indicator of the problem in Utah.

Utahns’ Perceptions

Two recent studies by the UWLP reveal that Utahns do not widely understand the issue of child sexual abuse. More than 65% of respondents in a representative sample of Utahns in 2023 indicated that they were neutral or disagreed that child sexual abuse is a problem in their immediate community. Findings from the sample in 2024 were similar. Equally concerning were responses by Utahns that child sexual abuse cannot be prevented.

“Our research surprised me in that so many Utahns believe child sexual abuse isn’t a problem in their communities,” said Kolene Anderson, UWLP associate director and lead author of the report. “However, when at least 1 in 5 girls or young women are experiencing this, and 1 in 7 children overall, I’d say that’s a really, really big problem. There’s a gap between what people think is happening and what is actually happening. Utahns won’t rally to fix a problem they don’t believe exists, so it is imperative to close that gap. My hope is that this research will help.”

Long-Term Impacts of Child Sexual Abuse

While some may operate under the misconception that sexual abuse is something a victim can “just get over,” there is abundant evidence that, without proper treatment, support and healing, there are a host of long-term impacts.

Insomnia, PTSD, depression, anxiety, and sexual dysfunctions are among the most common symptoms. According to one study, sexual abuse from childhood is most consistently associated with suicidal behavior.

There are impacts on families and society as well; researchers estimate that nearly $5.4 billion taxpayer dollars are spent annually to incarcerate inmates charged with sex crimes against children.

What Now?

Anderson said there are several critical next steps for Utahns.

“The top priority is to start by believing,” she said. “Utah is part of a national movement to believe people when they disclose that they’ve experienced sexual violence. With child sexual abuse specifically, disclosing is a process; it may take years for a person to realize what they experienced was abuse, then years to get enough courage to tell someone. When that first disclosure is met with doubt, the victim is victimized all over again.”

Utahns can learn how to respond supportively by visiting startbybelieving.org.

Additional next steps include encouraging policymakers and leaders to support and fund comprehensive preventative programs, including interventions for would-be offenders.

According to report co-author Susan Madsen, UWLP director and Karen Haight Huntsman Endowed Professor of Leadership in the USU Jon M. Huntsman School of Business, it’s imperative that we hold people accountable.

“Certainly, there is a cost associated with that,” she said. “But we’ve got to invest in interventions before more children are harmed. As today’s youth prepare to become Utah’s leaders of tomorrow, they need our protection and support. Child sexual abuse is preventable, and together we can work to protect our precious children.”

A Bolder Way Forward, a UWLP initiative to help girls and women thrive, includes an area of focus to help end child sexual abuse.