Abstract:
The study was aimed to examine the Psychological Impact of Child Sexual Abuse. This was based on
the Grama Niladhari Divisions of Echchankulam, Shastrikulangulam and Marakkarambalai under the
Vavuniya Divisional Secretariat. Here 61 children (16 boys and 45 girls) aged 14-18 years who were
subjected to child sexual abuses during the last five years were selected on purposive sampling
method. Data from victims were collected by self-developed questionnaire and DASS-21 criteria.
Data were also obtained through interviews with affected children, psychiatrists, counsellors and
legal counsel. The data thus obtained were quantitatively analyzed using the techniques of descriptive
analysis and inferential analysis through Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (Version- 22) and
for qualitative analysis of the information obtained from the interview. This study explored there are
different forms of child sexual abuse; women are more likely than men to be victims of child sexual
abuse; victims of child sexual abuse show moderate level stress, victims of child sexual abuse
experience mild depression, victims of child sexual abuse have mild anxiety. Conclusions have been
found that children with single parents are more likely to be sexually abused, and children of working
mothers are more likely to be sexually abused
