UWLP Releases Research on Child Sexual Abuse

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

The Utah State University Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP) 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 following includes critical information for Utahns to understand about child sexual abuse:

Prevalence: There are a number of reputable organizations that report varying statistics. The reason for the variations include a number of factors, but because child sexual abuse is widely underreported (most individuals do not report being sexually abused until adulthood—and that is if they report at all), researchers agree that rates are likely higher than data suggest. In Utah, the data suggest 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 our rates are even higher than reported. In addition to being female, other characteristics and may make a child more vulnerable to being sexually abused, including race and ethnicity, sexual minorities, and children with mental and/or physical disabilities.

According to the United States Sentencing Commission, Utah is tied for 5^th place in the nation 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 reality is that 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, which is yet another indicator of the problem in Utah.

Utahns’ Perceptions: Two recent studies by the UWLP reveal that Utahns do not widely understsand 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. The findings from the representative sample in 2024 were similar. Equally problematic were responses that indicated Utahns’ perception 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 that 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 is the type of childhood maltreatment 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?: “There are a number of important next steps for Utahns,” says Anderson. “The top priority—at least in my mind—is to start by believing. There is a national movement, of which Utah is a part, 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 revictimized 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 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 important to hold people accountable and certainly there is cost associated with doing that, but we’ve also got to be willing to invest in interventions before a child is harmed.” “Child sexual abuse is preventable. Our children need us to commit to solving this problem, because if we don’t it becomes their burden to bear.”

Click here to read the full report. For more information, visit the UWLP website at utwomen.org.

A Bolder Way Forward includes an area of focus that is working to end child sexual abuse. Learn more here.