The consequences of sexual abuse for those involved encompass the immediate qualities of the experience, the short- term effects, and the long-term outcomes. Sexual abuse does not occur in a vacuum; the experience and impact are affected by all that has gone before and everything that follows. The nature of the victimization only partially defines the victim's experience. A full understanding of the experience considers each victim's own perception at a personal level. The short-term impact of sexual abuse on the victim is a demonstration of the methods of coping: emotional reactions, psychological functioning, and behavioral change. Adolescent and adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse are overrepresented in many dysfunctional populations. The long-term impacts are apparent in the subsequent miseries perpetuated in the victim's own life, as well as that which is perpetrated on others. Some long-term effects are sexual dysfunctions; somatic complaints and anxiety; affective disorders and suicide risk; substance use and abuse; eating disorders; and communication, learning, and relationships. Comprehension of the victim's experience of sexual abuse has many implications in the treatment of sexually abusive youth, since empathy for the victim is crucial for the prevention of further abuse. 27 references