Final answer:
Perpetrators of child sexual abuse are predominantly parents or other relatives, not strangers. Reliable sources report that a significant majority of abuse is carried out by individuals in the child's immediate circle of trust.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the perpetrators of child sexual abuse are typically strangers to the family is false. In reality, the majority (81.2 percent) of perpetrators are parents, with 6.2 percent being other relatives, according to statistics from Child Help in 2011. This means that the abusers are often individuals who have a close relationship with the child and are trusted by the child and the family. The instances of abuse by non-family members, including strangers, are significantly less common. It is also important to note that child abuse happens across all socioeconomic, educational levels, and cultural backgrounds. Moreover, factors such as resilience to stress can influence the likelihood of parents to commit abuse. Child abuse reports are most frequently made by professionals such as teachers, law enforcement personnel, and social services staff, which demonstrates the role of a support system in recognizing and reporting cases of abuse.