Explained: Delayed Disclosure of Childhood Sexual Abuse

Brylie Turk
3.5 min read

Delayed disclosure of child sexual abuse is an incredibly common phenomenon due to many barriers child victims face which prevent them from reporting their abuse. Regardless of age, the United States Department of Justice suggests that eighty-six percent of child sexual abuse goes completely unreported. When child victims do decide to report their abuse, a high percentage of them will not do so until adulthood. This delay can occur for a variety of reasons, “among other barriers, children lack the knowledge needed to recognize sexual abuse, lack the ability to articulate that they’ve been abused, don’t have an adult they can disclose the abuse to, don’t have opportunities to disclose abuse, and aren’t believed when they try to disclose” (Child USA 2020). 

Additionally, the power dynamics between a child and their abuser as well as institutions such as schools, law enforcement, and families can all contribute to the delay in sexual abuse reporting. Children are often abused by trusted adults, making it difficult to recognize that their situations are predatory and wrong. Furthermore, children may not have the capacity to recognize they are being abused, and if they do, they are often embarrassed and afraid to disclose it. In rare cases where children do disclose their abuse, it is often ineffective, as their disclosures fail to reach individuals who can report and prevent the perpetrator from further harming the child. Only six to fifteen percent of disclosures make it to legal authorities because children will often only disclose their abuse to their peers, therefore child sexual abuse remains hidden from adults and the legal system. Due to these factors, disclosing child sexual abuse can take decades, with the average age of disclosure being fifty-two years old.

Other factors also contribute to delayed disclosure of childhood sexual abuse. The age of a child significantly impacts their willingness to share and their ability to recognize and communicate their abuse. Therefore, older children are more likely to disclose their abuse than younger children due higher cognitive competence. However, older children are also at higher risk for “undesirable outcomes such as the negative attitudes of others towards them” (McElvaney, 2013), which could deter them from disclosing. Additionally, boys are more reluctant to disclose than girls, due to the stigma and cultural expectations surrounding masculinity, such as that boys should be strong and not show emotions. This can cause increased feelings of shame and guilt for male survivors, making it more difficult for them to speak up.

It is often difficult for loved ones, peers, and legal authorities to comprehend delayed disclosures, as many individuals will question why the survivor did not report their abuse when it happened. Survivors will often face doubt and questioning when they finally disclose their abuse, and, in turn, face a challenging path to justice. Often, by the time child sexual abuse is disclosed, the statute of limitations has expired and survivors can no longer file legal claims, meaning they will never see their day in court. 

However, as of 2019, 23 states and D.C. have changed their statutes of limitation to create opportunities for victims of childhood sexual abuse (Statutes of limitations by state can be found here). In New York, a broad legislative sweep titled The New York Adult Survivors Act allowed a one-year time slot for adult survivors to file lawsuits against thier abusers and the institutions which enabled their abuse. Allowing claims beyond the statute of limitations brought as many as 11,000 filings, including several high-profile claims. Other states should follow suit to allow survivors to get the justice they deserve, despite the timing of their assault. Delayed disclosure is a valid concept revealed by evidence-based patterns, which are playing a large role in statute of limitations amendments in some states. However, the majority of jurisdictions still use statutes of limitations, which should be done away with to ensure healing for victims and consequences for perpetrators of sexual violence.

Childhood sexual abuse is an overlooked and underreported phenomenon that needs to be addressed. Children should be offered the opportunity to disclose their abuse by their parents, teachers, and other adults in their lives. When a child is showing signs of psychological distress, they should be evaluated and questioned to ensure they are not suffering from abuse by those responsible for their care (McElvaney, 2013).

Upon discovering a child has been sexually abused, their safety and mental health should become a priority to prevent further damage to the child. Additionally, adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse should not be stigmatized or criticized for their delayed disclosure, but rather embraced by those around them. 

The legal system should do away with statutes of limitations, as delayed disclosure is common due to the many barriers children face when reporting. Just because a crime occurred decades prior to reporting does not mean that perpetrators should not be held accountable for their actions. The delayed disclosure of childhood sexual abuse should be taken seriously by the legal system, loved ones, and communities to ensure survivors get the help and justice they deserve.