Sexual abuse is unwanted sexual activity, with perpetrators using force, making threats or taking advantage of victims not able to give consent. Most victims and perpetrators know each other. Immediate reactions to sexual abuse include shock, fear or disbelief. Long-term symptoms include anxiety, fear or post-traumatic stress disorder.

Many children are sexually abused and when they grow into adults they are often still suffering long term symptoms and effects of childhood abuse. Symptoms are sometimes connected to the earlier abuse but if the survivor has repressed memories of the old traumatic experiences then the symptoms might not be recognizably connected.