Recognizing Abuse

Signs of Physical Abuse

While injuries can occur accidentally during play, physical abuse should be suspected if the explanations do not fit the injury, or if a pattern of frequency is apparent (for example, handprints or multiple marks of a belt or cord). The presence of many injuries in various stages of healing makes it obvious that the injuries did not all occur from one accident. Physical indicators of abuse include bruises, lacerations, swollen areas, and marks on the child’s face, head, back, chest, genital area, buttocks, or thighs. Wounds like human bite marks, cigarette burns, broken bones, puncture marks, or missing hair may indicate abuse. 

A child’s behavior might also signal that something is wrong. Victims of physical abuse may display withdrawn or aggressive behavior, complain of soreness or uncomfortable movement, wear clothing that is inappropriate for the weather, express discomfort with physical contact, or become chronic runaways.

Signs of Neglect

Victims of persistent neglect are unhappy, have poor emotional and social support, and appear to be lonely and isolated. Their disturbed behavior reflects inner turmoil, distress, and confusion. Their development is delayed and problematic, and their attachments to their parents or caregivers are insecure. Parental relationships with these children are often hostile, neglectful, rejecting, dismissive, or paralyzing of development of individuality and independence. Victims suffer from low self-esteem, believing that they are not worthy of being loved, wanted or able to achieve. They seem to be in a never-ending state of stress, anxiety, and uncertainty. Their relationships with other children lack assertiveness and personal appeal, and their educational achievements are poor. 

Signs of emotional abuse

Although the visible signs of emotional abuse in children can be difficult to detect, the hidden scars of this type of abuse manifest in numerous behavioral ways, including insecurity, poor self-esteem, destructive behavior, angry acts (such as fire setting and animal cruelty), withdrawal, poor development of basic skills, alcohol or drug abuse, suicide attempts, difficulty forming relationships and unstable job histories. Emotionally abused children often grow up thinking that they are deficient in some way. A continuing tragedy of emotional abuse is that these children may continue the cycle with their children when they become parents.

Signs of sexual abuse 

When it comes to child sexual abuse, physical indicators include pain or irritation to the genital area, difficulty walking or sitting, vaginal or penile discharge, and difficulty with urination. Some children contract sexually transmitted diseases through abuse. In addition, children who are sexually abused may exhibit behavioral changes based on their age.