This paper examines how child sexual assault is a wide spread problem in today's society that presents a severe risk to the
victim's mental health, both during childhood and into adulthood. It shows how for many sexually abused children, the effects continue long after the abuse has ended. It analyzes the variety of personality characteristics of sexually abused children as the result of experiencing fear, such as hostility, guilt, shame, depression, low self-esteem, poor self-image, physical and sleep complaints and sexual behavior disturbances and looks at how child sexual abuse can have a major negative impact on a child's personality development, social development,
psychosexual development and school functioning. It can lead to the development of chronic life adjustment problems, personality disorders and
psychopathology.