Know the signs: Sexual Abuse
Definition
Sexual abuse includes acts by any adult which include touching a child’s genitals, penetration by objects, oral sex, incest, sexual assault, indecent exposure, and exploitation through prostitution or the production of pornographic materials. (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2015)
Sexual abuse is defined by the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act as “the employment, use, persuasion, inducement, enticement, or coercion of any child to engage in, or assist any other person to engage in, any sexually explicit conduct or simulation of such conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct; or the rape, and in cases of caretaker or intra-familial relationships, statutory rape, molestation, prostitution, or other form of sexual exploitation of children, or incest with children.” All sexual activity between an adult and a child is sexual abuse, even if it doesn’t involve penetration, force, pain, or touching.
Sexual touching between children can also be sexual abuse if there is a significant age difference between the children or the children are very different developmentally or in size.
Examples
Examples of Touching Sexual Acts
- Touching a child’s genitals, breasts, or buttocks
- Making a child touch another person’s sexual organs
- Any penetration of a child’s vagina, anus, or mouth by a penis or any other object for no valid medical reason
Examples of Non-Touching Sexual Acts
- Indecent exposure or being naked in public
- Showing children pornographic material
- Masturbating or engaging in other sexual behavior in the presence of a child
- Making sexual comments to a child
- Harassing, encouraging, pressuring, or bargaining with a child to perform sexually
- Achieving sexual arousal by watching a child who is undressing or unclothed
Video: Believe What the Child is Saying to You
In this video a medical doctor and child advocacy center medical director who specializes in child abuse investigations emphasizes what is important to do and not to do when a considering making a report.
Signs Young Children 0-3 Years of Age May Exhibit
Physical Signs
- Any injuries to the genital or anal area
- Painful urination or bowel movement
- Sore throats or trouble swallowing
- Difficulty walking or sitting
- Frequent urinary or yeast infections
- Feeding and bowel problems
Behavioral Signs
- Excessive crying
- Fear
- Failure to thrive
- Sleeping problems including nightmares
- Exhibits violent behavior towards siblings and other children (biting, hitting, kicking)
- Regressive behavior such as thumb-sucking or bedwetting
Signs Young Children 2-9 Years of Age May Exhibit
Physical signs
- Any injuries to the genital or anal area
- Painful urination or bowel movement
- Sore throats or trouble swallowing
- Difficulty walking or sitting
- Feeding and bowel problems
- Urinary and/or bowel accidents
- Frequent urinary or yeast infections
- Chronic or recurrent abdominal or pelvic pain
Behavioral signs
- Exhibits adult-like sexual knowledge, behavior or language
- Engages in inappropriate sex play (for example act out sexual behavior on stuffed animals or other toys
- Feeling shameful or guilty
- Excessive or public masturbation
- Reenacts sexual abuse or tries to initiate behavior with siblings or other children
- Shows great worry for siblings or assumes caretaking role
- Exhibits violent behavior towards siblings and other children (biting, hitting, kicking)
- Trouble making friends
- Writes, draws, plays, or dreams of sexual or frightening images
- Regressive behavior such as thumb-sucking or bedwetting
- Feels threatened by physical contact
- Has nightmares or trouble sleeping
- Develops phobias
- Cruelty to animals
Signs Young Children 9 Years and Older May Exhibit
Physical signs
- Painful urination or bowel movement
- Sore throats or trouble swallowing
- Difficulty walking or sitting
- Feeding and bowel problems
- Self-harm
- Gain or lose a large amount of weight
- Frequent urinary or yeast infections
- Become pregnant or contract a venereal disease(s)
Behavioral signs
- Depression or withdrawal
- Suicidal thoughts or gestures
- Nightmares or trouble sleeping
- Sudden changes in school performance (plummeting grades, skipping school)
- Drug and alcohol abuse
- Promiscuous activities
- Run away from home
- Secretive or isolated
- Trouble making friends
- Exhibits adult-like sexual knowledge, behavior or language
- Feeling shameful or guilty
- Excessive or public masturbation
- Reenacts sexual abuse or tries to initiate behavior with siblings or other children
- Shows great worry for siblings or assumes caretaking role
- Extreme mood swings (crying, violence, fear, withdrawal, depression)
- Writes, draws, plays, or dreams of sexual or frightening images
- Regressive or clingy behavior
- Feels threatened by physical contact
- Develops phobias
- Fear of situations outside of their control
- Engage in fire-starting activities
- Cruelty to animals
- Complaints of physical ailments such as headaches, stomachaches or pain
Signs Sexual Predators May Exhibit
93% of victims under the age of 18 know the abuser. An adult who is sexually abusing a child may show the following signs:
- Is very protective of child or limits the child’s contact with others, especially those of the opposite sex
- Tend to keep to themselves
- Is jealous or controlling with family members
- Refuses to allow child to socialize with other children or speak to another adult outside of the home
- Secretive
- Exhibits hypersexual activity
- Exposes self to others
- Hesitates or brushes away need to seek medical help for child injuries
- Low self-esteem, depression, anxiety and personality problems
- Often offers to babysit or take care of child(ren)on overnight trips
- Out of the ordinary interest in physical play with child (wresting, tickling, kissing, hugging)
- Selects a “special child”
- Has secret interactions with teens or children (e.g., games; sharing drugs, alcohol, or sexual material)
- Frequently walks in on child/teen in the bathroom
- Allows child/teen to get away with inappropriate behavior.
Mental Injury | Sexual Exploitation 