Indicators of Child Abuse
The following list of indicators may be used as a guide to help determine if there is a suspicion of child abuse or neglect. These indicators can also exist in situations where a child is NOT abused or neglected; they are only suggestive of abuse or neglect. The presence of any one or more of these indicators may have an entirely appropriate or unrelated explanation.
INDICATORS OF PHYSICAL ABUSE – CHILD
- Unexplained bruises, welts, human bite marks, bald spots
- Numerous bruises in various stages of healing
- Marks on many surfaces of the body
- Unexplained burns, especially cigarette or immersion burns
- Withdrawal or aggression – behavioral extremes
- Uncomfortable with physical contact
- Afraid to go home
- Dressed inappropriately for the weather
- Cringes when approached by an adult (fears getting hit)
- Overreacts to accidents such as spilling milk
- Does not want to talk about home life
- Extreme attachment to parents
- Extreme attentiveness to needs of parents
INDICATORS OF PHYSICAL ABUSE – PARENT
- Contradictory statements about child's injury
- Excessive anxiety about child's behavior
- Labels child as a “problem”
- Says child makes up stories and that child should not be believed
- Verbally aggressive toward child
INDICATORS OF SEXUAL ABUSE – CHILD
- Pain or itching in genital area
- Bruises or bleeding in external genitalia
- Frequent urinary or yeast infections
- Torn, stained or bloody underclothing
- Venereal disease
- A child's report or self-disclosure
- Sexual knowledge beyond what is natural for a child
- Preoccupation with their body
- Acting out sexual behavior
- Withdrawal, chronic depression
- Self-devaluation and lack of confidence
- Problems with bedtime or afraid to go to bed
- Bedwetting – especially if it begins in a child who has been dry
INDICATORS OF SEXUAL ABUSE – PARENT
- Poor sexual relationship between parents
- Frequent changes of adults in household
- Lack of supervision of child
- Parent relates to child on adult level
- Parent is jealous of child's relationship with others
- Parent is overly possessive of child
INDICATORS OF NEGLECT OR PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE – CHILD
- Unattended medical needs
- Consistent lack of supervision
- Persistent hunger, poor hygiene or inappropriate dress
- Distended stomach or emaciated body
- Delayed physical development
- Substance abuse
- Regularly displays fatigue or listlessness
- Steals food or begs
- Habit disorders (sucking, rocking, etc.)
- Passive or aggressive behavior extremes
- Neurotic traits such as sleep disorders or inhibition of play
INDICATORS OF NEGLECT OR PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE – PARENT
- Disinterest in or rejection of child
- Deserting or avoiding child
- Threatening child, yelling, and/or screaming at child
- Ignoring medical problems of child
- Constant criticism of child, making negative comparison with other children
- Embarrassing children in public or making child feel ashamed or guilty
- Isolating child from society or normal friendships
- Placing child in dangerous situations
- Blaming child for situations not within child’s control
- Failing to meet child's physical/emotional needs
Indicators of Child Sex Trafficking – Child
Source: Innocence Lost Working Group, 2010
- History of emotional, sexual, or other physical abuse
- Signs of current physical abuse and/or sexually transmitted diseases
- History of running away or current status as a runaway
- Inexplicable appearance of expensive gifts, clothing, cell phones, tattoos, or other costly items
- Presence of an older boyfriend or girlfriend
- Drug addiction
- Withdrawal or lack of interest in previous activities
- Gang involvement
Indicators of Child Labor Trafficking – Child
Source: http://www.polarisproject.org/human-trafficking/ recognizing-the-signs
- No freedom to leave or come and go as desired
- No or very little pay, or payment only through tips
- Excessive and/or unusual work hours
- No breaks at work
- A large debt that cannot be paid off
- Recruitment through false promises concerning the nature and conditions of the work
- High security measures in the work and/or living locations
- Lack of knowledge of whereabouts and/or lost sense of time