Signs/Symptoms of Child Sexual Abuse
Sexual Behavior Indicators:
- Copying adult sexual behavior
- Persistent, inappropriate, unusual, or aggressive sexual play with other children, themselves, toys, or pets
- Displaying sexual knowledge, through language or behavior, that is beyond what is normal for their age
- Compulsive masturbation
- Excessive curiosity about sexual matters or genitalia (self and others)
- Unusually seductive with classmates, teachers, and other adults
- Sexual promiscuity
- Excessive concern about sexual identity
Behavioral Indicators in Younger Children:
- Bed wetting
- Fecal soiling
- Eating problems (overeating, under eating)
- Fears or phobias
- Overly compulsive behavior
- School problems or significant change in school performance (attitude and grades)
- Regression to behavior already mastered, such as thumb sucking, bed-wetting, etc.
- Inability to concentrate
- Sleep disturbances (e.g., nightmares, fearful about falling asleep, fretful sleep patterns, or sleeping long hours)
Behavioral Indicators in Older Children and Adolescents:
- Withdrawal from family, friends, or usual activities
- Depression or anxiety
- Passive or overly pleasing behavior
- Poor hygiene or excessive bathing
- Poor peer relations and social skills
- Acting out, running away or aggressive behavior
- Alcohol or drug abuse
- School problems, frequent absences, sudden drop in school performance
- Refusal to dress for physical education
- Nonparticipation in sports and social activities
- Fearful of showers/restrooms
- Fearful of home life demonstrated by arriving at school early or leaving late
- Suddenly fearful of other things (e.g., going outside, participating in familiar activities)
- Extraordinary fear of males (of being approached or touched by them)
- Self-consciousness of body beyond that expected for age
- Crying without provocation
- Suicide attempts
Feelings Expressed or Observed:
- Fear (of the dark, being alone, of the abuser, of causing trouble, of losing adults important to them, of being taken away from home, of being "different")
- Anger (at the abuser; at other adults around them who did not protect them, at themselves - that it's my fault)
- Isolation (because "something is wrong with me", they feel alone in their experience, they have trouble talking about the abuse)
- Sadness (about having something taken from them, losing a part of themselves, growing up too fast, and being betrayed by someone they trusted)
- Guilt (for not being able to stop the abuse, believing they "consented" to the abuse, "telling"--if they told, and keeping the secret--if they did not tell)
- Shame (about being involved in the experience and about their bodies' response to the abuse)
- Confusion (because they may love or like the abuser and their feelings change all the time)
Additional Signs:
- Physical complaints
- Hints, indirect comments or statements about the abuse