Child Abuse Indicators

indications of abuse

Sexual Abuse

Physical Indicators:

• Difficulty in walking or sitting
• Torn, stained or bloody underclothing
• Pain on urination
• Bruises, bleeding or lacerations in external genitalia, vaginal or anal areas
• Vaginal/penile discharge
• Sexually transmitted diseases, especially in pre-teens
• Poor sphincter tone
• Pregnancy

Behavioral Indicators:

• Unwilling to change for gym or participate in physical education class
• Withdrawal, fantasy or infantile behavior
• Bizarre, sophisticated, or unusual sexual behavior or knowledge
• Poor peer relationships
• Delinquency or runaway
• Reports of sexual assault by caretaker
• Dramatic change in school performance
• Depression/suicidal behavior

Severe sleep disturbances

• Nightmares
• Night terrors
• sleeplessness
• Eating disorders
• Drug and/or alcohol addiction
• Sexually promiscuous at an early age
• School failure/truancy
• Poor self worth
• Damaged goods
• Lack of ability to trust
• Inappropriate or precocious maturity
• Parentified
• Blurred boundaries
• Role confusion

Caretaker's Attitude/Behavior:

• Jealousy
• Constantly giving victim gifts
• Spouse has long term illness
• Over-involvement in child’s life
• Drug and/or alcohol abuse
• Blames child for abuse/takes no responsibility for behavior
• Poor impulse control
• Marital problems
• Is cold and rejecting; withholds love or affection from child except when sexually abusing
• Denial
• Lack verbal skills
• Have poor peer relationships
• Blurred boundaries
• Low self-esteem
• Discloses being sexually abused as a child

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