Common signs of child abuse or other trauma include:
- chronic stomach pain or headaches
- withdrawl/depression
- unexplained anger
- perfectionism
- inappropriate sexual behavior and/or language
- inappropriate interest in violence and/or domination
However, many children who are being abused will show no signs at all, and many children who exhibit these traits have never been abused. The most important sign of child abuse is a rapid change in the child's behavior or demeanor.
The costs of not responding to child abuse are huge. Individuals who have experienced child abuse may suffer from higher rates of:
- chronic fatigue
- hypertension
- sexually transmitted diseases
- obesity
- illness
- depression
- anxiety
- eating disorders
- suicidal thoughts and attempts
- post-traumatic stress disorder
Social difficulties are also common amongst survivors of untreated child abuse, such as:
- difficulty developing relationships with peers and adults later in life
- attention deficit disorders
- difficulty with abstract reasoning
- impairment in language development
- difficulty with problem-solving skills
- higher number of sexual partners over lifetime
- younger age of consensual sexual activity
- teen pregnancy
- alcohol and substance abuse
- aggression
- juvenile delinquency
- adult criminality
- abusive or violent behavior
References:
Information for this page was taken from multiple (often redundant) sources, including:
Darkness to Light (2008). Statistics surrounding child sexual abuse. Retrieved November 18, 2008, from http://www.darkness2light.org/KnowAbout/statistics_2.asp.
Margolin, G. & Gordis, E.B. (2000). The effects of family and community violence on children. Annual Review of Psychology, 51(1), 445-479.
Thomas, D., Leicht, C., Hughes, C., Madigan, A., and Dowell, K. (2003). Emerging practices in the prevention of child abuse and neglect. Retrieved November 20, 2008 from http://www.childwelfare.gov/prevention/programs/whatworks/report/report.pdf.
Wang, C.T. & Holton, J. (2007). Total estimated cost of child abuse and neglect in the United States. Retrieved November 18, 2008 from http://www.preventchildabuse.org/about_us/media_releases/pcaa_pew_economic_impact_study_final.pdf.
)
