Safe, trusted, and informed adults are the first line of defense in protecting children. Recognizing and reacting responsibly to child abuse is key to prevention and getting children the help they need.
Safe Shores offers trainings that teach adults how to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. These trainings are designed for individuals concerned about the safety of children, as well as youth-serving organizations.
Signs of Sexual Abuse
Children who have been sexually abused may display a wide variety of emotional, behavioral, or physical symptoms. The signs below are not all-inclusive or exclusive, but can serve as a guide to understanding an abused child’s behavior.
Behavioral and Emotional Signs of Sexual Abuse
- Discloses that abuse has occurred
- Anxiety or Depression
- Sleep disturbances including nightmares or night terrors
- Change in eating habits
- Unusual fear of certain people or places; reluctance to be alone with a certain person
- Changes in mood that could including anger, aggressiveness towards parents, siblings, friends, pets
- Rebellion or withdrawal; runaway behavior
- Change in attitude towards school or academic performance; lack of interest in friends, sports, or other activities
- Unexplained or frequent health problems like headaches or stomachaches
- Poor self-esteem; avoidance of relationships
- Self-mutilation or change in body perception like thinking of self or body as dirty or bad; suicidal thoughts
- Regression to previously outgrown behaviors, for example bedwetting or thumb sucking
- Incorporating sexual subject matter into drawing, writing or play
- Sexual behaviors or knowledge of sexual language and behaviors that are not appropriate for their developmental stage.
- Too “perfect” behavior or overly compliant behavior
Behavioral and emotional signs do not always mean sexual abuse is occurring. They can also emerge during times of stress or in response to other trauma. In any case, it is important to tell your child you have noticed the behavior and talk about what might be causing it.
Physical Signs
Physical signs of sexual abuse are rare but may include:
- Pain, bleeding or discharge in genitals, anus, or mouth
- Vaginal infections
- Recurrent urinary tract infections
- Cuts or tears around the vaginal area or the anus
- Other physical trauma (redness, rash, swelling) to genital or anal area
- Persistent or recurring pain during urination or bowel movements
- Wetting or soiling accidents unrelated to toilet training
- Stained, torn, or bloody undergarments
- Sexually transmitted diseases or pregnancy
If you see physical signs of abuse, have your child examined by a professional immediately, or call the police.
Protect the child by ensuring they are not near the abuser and immediately report the abuse to the proper authorities. To report suspected child abuse in the District of Columbia, please call 202-671-SAFE (7233).
As the DC Chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America, Safe Shores offers free child abuse prevention trainings with practical actions you can take to answer questions, reinforce healthy boundaries, and interact with children in safe, respectful ways.
