Having injuries such as bruises, cuts, or burns that the child cannot or will not explain Having “patterned” injuries (e. g. , an injury that appears to be from a belt) Acting anxious or always on guard Flinching at sudden touch or movement, and may be averse to being touched Showing signs of discomfort when moving Wearing inappropriate clothing to cover arms and legs, such as long sleeves on hot days
Having low self-esteem or self-confidence[3] X Expert Source Jay Reid, LPCCLicensed Professional Clinical Counselor Expert Interview. 7 August 2020. Seeking affection from others Being distrustful or fearful Having trouble with emotional regulation Struggling with social interaction Acting older or younger than is appropriate for the child’s age, such as thumb sucking or taking on care of other children[4] X Trustworthy Source HelpGuide Nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free, evidence-based mental health and wellness resources. Go to source
Sexual knowledge or actions that don’t match the child’s age group Trouble walking or sitting down Unwillingness to change clothing in front of others Fear of certain places or people[7] X Research source Pregnancy in adolescent females Pain, bruises, or bleeding in the genital area
Consistent uncleanliness, including body odor Lack of weather-appropriate clothing Requests for food or other necessities, and hoarding these when possible Being underweight or malnourished Having untreated physical or psychological problems[9] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source
In older children, you may see behavioral regression: when a child reverts back to old behaviors that they did when they were younger. Examples include thumb-sucking, bedwetting, and throwing tantrums. Notice changes in eating habits. Does the child eat much more than they used to, or seem less interested in food? Is the child gaining or losing weight? Is the child scared of a certain person or group of people? It’s normal for children to be afraid of some people, such as those who may look frightening, but if the child seems to be scared of an older child, adult, or a group of children or adults, then the child may be being abused. Is the child vandalizing property or stealing? Sometimes, children may be stealing out of necessity, such as if they are being neglected. Pay attention to what the child takes because taking food or money can be a sign of neglect. [10] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source
Try to find out why the child’s friends are no longer spending time with the child. If the friends describe the child as becoming secretive, moody, or devoting all of their time to another person, take a closer look at the situation. If the child didn’t have many friends to begin with, watch for signs of bullying. Bullying can contribute to symptoms of abuse, but the child may be being abused as well.
Self-injury, such as cutting or burning Suicidal thoughts or intentions Drug or alcohol abuse Intents or threats to harm others
Don’t ignore smaller problems such as frequent headaches or stomach pain, as these can be the body’s stress response.
Adults who were victims of child abuse are more likely to develop eating disorders, engage in self-injurious behaviors, or attempt suicide. Be aware that most people aren’t going to open up about their mental health to you, especially if you don’t know the person well. If the person is showing symptoms of depression or suicidal ideation, you may want to reach out and offer your support, but do not confront them about it.
Child abuse has also been linked to development of personality disorders, such as antisocial personality disorder. [20] X Research source However, someone’s past does not justify their current actions; it merely serves as an explanation for why the person has certain behaviors.
Sleep disturbances, such as insomnia or nightmares - the person may be constantly tired Irritability, anger, or aggression Impulsiveness Constantly feeling unsafe
If the adult has stated that they intend to die by suicide or harm others, contact emergency services immediately and try to distract the person until help arrives. Avoid leaving the person alone.
Physical abuse is abuse involving physical actions such as slapping, kicking, pushing, hair-pulling, choking, and more. Emotional abuse is abuse involving emotional manipulation, threats, and put-downs - for example, a parent calling their child worthless and threatening to kick them out. Sexual abuse is abuse of a sexual nature, such as rape, sexual touching, or taking pornographic photos of the child. Neglect is abuse involving a lack of care for the child. A neglected child may have poor hygiene and ill-fitting clothing and seem to be constantly unsupervised.
Child abuse is only violent or Physical abuse is more severe: Victims of child abuse who were emotionally abused or neglected can carry the memories of abuse for as long as those who are physically abused. No form of abuse is “worse” than another form. Children lie about being abused: Many statistics, such as police and court statistics, show that it is very rare for children to claim that they have been abused when they haven’t. It has also been found that it is more common for children to say that they aren’t being abused when they really are. They did something to deserve it: While parents do have to set and enforce rules, a parent who abuses their child is the one at fault, not the child. Even if the child has been severely misbehaving, the parent’s job is not to hit, threaten, or belittle them. A child who has been dressing “older than their age” isn’t responsible for sexual abuse, a child who has been misbehaving isn’t responsible for physical abuse, and a child who is emotional towards their parents isn’t responsible for emotional abuse. Disabled children aren’t at risk for abuse: Disabled children are actually at a higher risk for abuse than children without disabilities. [25] X Trustworthy Source Child Welfare Information Gateway Online portal managed by the U. S. Children’s Bureau providing resources related to childcare and abuse prevention Go to source For this reason, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on disabled children and watch for signs that they may be being abused. Children who are abused should be removed from the home: In most cases, abused children are only removed from the home if keeping them at home would be dangerous, as removing a child from their home can distress the child. Most of the time, the child is kept at home while outside help is provided for the family. Sexual abuse is done by strangers: Sexual abuse of a child is not limited to strangers. Most children who are sexually abused are abused by people that they know.
Children who have been abused have a heightened risk of self-harming behaviors as well as suicidal thinking. Other effects of child abuse are depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), personality disorders, eating disorders, and dissociative disorders. Not getting help for an abused child can result in severe problems for the child later on in life.
