Child Abuse: An Overview
> Signs of Child Abuse
Some signs can indicate any form of child abuse:
Aggressive, disruptive, and sometimes illegal behavior; Anger and rage, or feelings of sadness or other symptoms of depression; Anxiety or fears, or flashbacks and nightmares; Broken bones or internal injuries; Burns; Changes in a child's behavior or school performance; Constant hunger or thirst; Cuts and bruises; Dirty hair or skin, frequent diaper rash; Drug and alcohol abuse; Hard-to-believe stories about how accidents occurred; Lack of interest in surroundings; Lack of supervision; Passive or withdrawn behavior; Poor self-image; Sexual acting out; Self-destructive or self-abusive behavior, suicidal thoughts; School problems or failure; The child seems guarded and startles easily; The child loiters at school or friends' houses; The child seems reluctant to go home.
2,6,18
Child abuse is more likely to occur when any of the following exist in families:
An adult was abused as a child; An adult views a child as being different from the parent's preconceived expectations; The parent perceives a child as having special needs; There is a crisis or series of crises; Parental depression or mental illness; Parental chronic physical illness; Physical abuse of the mother; Poor adherence to medical recommendation for children; Marked aggression among siblings; Extreme overprotection of child; Poverty; Having physical or behavioral traits that make the child especially difficult to care for; Other violence in the home; Alcohol or other drug abuse by parents or caretakers; Being a stepparent; Social isolation of the caretaker (the person feels that he or she has no support); Family stress due to job loss, financial burdens, illness, death, separation, or divorce.
2,3,5,8,10
Child Abuse: Just One StoryChild Abuse Introduction |
Signs of Child AbuseChild Abuse Statistics |
It's Under ReportedEffects of Child Abuse on Children: Abuse GeneralEffects of Child Abuse on Children: Child Sexual AbuseInjuries to Children: Physical and Sexual AbuseEffects of Child Abuse on Adults: Childhood AbuseEffects of Child Abuse on Adults: Childhood Sexual AbuseDefinition of Physical Abuse |
Signs of Physical AbuseDefinition of Sexual Abuse |
Signs of Sexual AbuseDefinition of Child Neglect |
Signs of Child NeglectDefinition of Emotional Abuse |
Signs of Emotional AbuseAbusers |
PedophilesChild Physical Abuse and Corporal PunishmentTreatment for Child AbuseCosts to SocietyConclusionsReferencesState Child Abuse LawsNationwide Crisis Line and Hotline DirectoryNational Non-Governmental Organizations and LinksU.S. Government Organizations and Links