Children who are sexually abused are affected in many different ways. … Depression may be linked to suicide, drug abuse, and self-abusive behavior. … Thus, all people who are sexually abused experience some depression. … Many victims of sexual abuse may experience nightmares about the abuse. In some cases, those who are abused as a child often become abusers themselves (Kinnear 42).Low self-esteem is also another effect of sexual abuse. …