sexual abuse (redirected from Sex abuse)

abuse (ah-būs´) misuse, maltreatment, or excessive use.

---

child abuse  see battered-child syndrome.

drug abuse  substance a.

physical abuse  any act resulting in a nonaccidental physical injury.

psychoactive substance abuse  substance a.

sexual abuse  assault or other crime of a sexual nature, which need not be physical. Acts of a sexual nature are considered abuse if performed with minors or nonconsenting adults.

substance abuse  use of a substance that modifies mood or behavior in a manner characterized by a maladaptive pattern of use. See also substance dependence, under dependence.

---

sexual abuse,

the sexual mistreatment of another person by fondling, rape, or forced participation in unnatural sex acts or other perverted behavior. Victims tend to experience a traumatic feeling of loss of control of themselves.

---

abuse,

n the improper use of program benefits, resources, and/or services by either dental professionals, institutions, or patients.

abuse, child,

n See child abuse.

abuse, drug,

n the misuse of legal or illegal substances with the intent to alter the user's feelings, behavior, or perception.

abuse, elder,

n the behavior or treatment toward an elderly person, by another person in a position of care, that has the purpose or effect of harming the elderly person's well-being. Such harm may include economic, physical, sexual, or mental abuse.

abuse, nitrous oxide,

n the deliberate inhalation of nitrous oxide to produce mood-altering effects. A type of substance abuse.

abuse, polysubstance,

n the physical dependence on at least three substances that have been classified as habit forming, but without any one of the substances having greater importance or influence than the others. The concept does not include caffeine or nicotine.

abuse, sexual,

n sexual acts performed with children or with nonconsenting adults in a criminal manner.

abuse, substance,

n the misuse of legal or illegal substances with the intent to alter some aspect of the user's experience. May include medications, illicit drugs, legal substances with potential mood-altering effects (such as alcohol or tobacco), or substances whose primary use may not be for human consumption (such as inhalants).

---

sexual abuse

Pediatrics '…inappropriate exposure of a child to sexual acts or materials, the passive use of children as sexual stimuli for adults, and actual sexual contact between children and older people. Sexually abused children, in addition to their depressive and aggressive Sx, have an increased frequency of anxiety disorders and problems with sex role and sexual functioning.'; SA is also defined as '… sexual contact with a child that occurs as a result of force or in a relationship where it is exploitative because of an age difference or caretaking responsibility;' the activities displayed by the offender range from exhibitionism to intercourse. See Child abuser, Child sexual abuse, Domestic violence.