The Warning Signs of Child Abuse and Neglect

crying child

There is an unfortunate truth in America: Child abuse is a rampant, major societal problem that touches every community in this country. The statistics bear out this depressing statement as according to the Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 7 children in the United States has experienced either abuse or neglect in the past year. Moreover, as of 2020 — the latest year for which statistics were available — 1,750 children were killed directly due to abuse or neglect.

All of us have an essential role to play in learning to recognize the signs of child abuse. By better understanding abusive parents’ signs and the types of child abuse, we can help end this ugly epidemic and get hurt children the help they need — before it becomes too late. 

How is Child Abuse & Neglect Defined in Federal Law? 

Federal law explicitly defines abusive or neglectful behavior by parents or caregivers. This includes:

“Any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker, which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation”; or

“An act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm.”

This definition is explicitly made in the Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, as amended in 2010. It is worth noting that the law explicitly refers to parents or caregivers, as well as how these individuals treat children under the age of 18. Of course, there are also 50 states in America, and all these states may have additional definitions and penalties for child abuse, with some jurisdictions enacting different and stronger penalties for certain types of child abuse. 

Signs of Child Abuse & Neglect 

Sometimes, the signs of child abuse can be extremely obvious. Unfortunately, other times, abusive parents and signs of abuse can be much more subtle and easier to miss. As such, we must educate ourselves on the signs of child abuse and better learn how to identify them. 

Signs of child abuse can include:

  • Bruises, cuts, or unexplained or repeated physical injuries.
  • Withdrawal from social groups or abrupt changes in behavior.
  • Abrupt and otherwise unexplained changes in behavior. This may include unexplained fits of anger, sadness, challenges with emotional regulation, and more.
  • Absences from school or other social activities.
  • Problems with sleep.

Major Types of Child Abuse and Neglect 

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention categorizes four types of child abuse. This includes:

  • Physical abuse involves an adult using force to cause physical injury to a younger child. This type of abuse can involve the use of fists, kicking, weapons, or more.
  • Sexual abuse involves committing any sexual act against a child or forcing that child to engage in a sexual act. 
  • Emotional abuse means the intentional infliction of emotional harm against a child. This abuse can run the gamut between intentionally insulting or berating a child or withholding love.
  • Neglect is defined as willfully failing to meet a child’s physical or emotional needs. There can be extensive overlap between neglect and any of the above activities. For example, withholding food would be both neglect and physical abuse. 

Impact of Childhood Abuse & Trauma on Wellbeing 

Part of the tragedy of child abuse is that it is a problem that can cause an array of issues for a child throughout their entire life. 

Physical 

As noted above, child abuse kills hundreds of children every year. However, child abuse can leave long-term trauma and physical disability. Previous studies have found that abused individuals reported long-term physical symptoms, poor health, and medical diagnoses directly attributable to the abuse. Tragically, in some cases, beatings and neglect received by children can cause lifelong disabilities. A 2018 study found that child abuse can cause “scars” on a child’s DNA, meaning they then passed along the trauma they received to their children. 

Behavioral 

Child abuse can cause lifelong challenges of behavioral issues among its victims. As noted above, individuals who were abused as children were more likely to show numerous behavioral challenges. For example, they become more likely to act out, withdraw, or display rebellious behavior.

A 2013 study noted that a child’s behavior should be viewed as an outward expression of that child’s perceived safety and security. If they felt unsafe or as if they were trapped in a dangerous environment, they were more likely to act out. This explains why abused children often become bullies and may exhibit challenges when expressing emotions. In the long run, child abuse is more likely to lead to behavioral problems and hurt the ability of a child to function in society. 

Other studies have noted explicit connections between child abuse and certain negative behaviors, like aggression.

Emotional

Child abuse can lead to many emotional problems for its victims. Unfortunately, this reality makes sense. A child will learn many negative lessons from abuse: It will teach a child that aggression is an acceptable way of dealing with behaviors and may lead them to believe that they are responsible for the abuse they suffer. Furthermore, kids who are abused are less likely to be able to function independently as they become adults, as they never learn healthy skills when it comes to behavior. This type of trauma can lead to codependency issues. 

Mental Health

Unfortunately, child abuse can have a devastating impact on a child’s mental health while that child is still a kid and as they grow into adults. Children who are abused are more likely to develop numerous mental illnesses. These issues include depression, anxiety issues, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and more. There are many reasons that this may be the case, including the emotional trauma caused by suffering from abuse. It is also worth noting that the physical damage caused by abuse can sometimes cause actual brain damage, leading to maladaptive emotional behaviors. 

Other studies have found that child abuse can cause trauma and harmful coping mechanisms. For example, it has been found that abused children are more likely to become addicted to drugs or alcohol than adults. 

Symptoms to Look Out For 

There are many abusive parents signs and signs of child abuse that individuals should look out for, particularly if they work in a profession with children. Sometimes, the symptoms may be obvious. Other times, they may be more subtle. However, all of us must be aware of the signs of an abusive parent. Doing so can allow individuals to take necessary actions to report child abuse and potentially stop an abuser. 

Symptoms of child abuse can include:

  • Physical symptoms – including bruises, cuts, or repeated injuries. In addition, if there is neglectful behavior, there may be issues like repeated diaper rash or signs of malnutrition.
  • Emotional and mental health symptoms – including aggression, bullying, depression, withdrawal, or a sharp and unexplained change in a child’s behavior. 
  • Symptoms of neglect – including a child being constantly hungry or thirsty. Of course, this may not indicate anything other than a hungry or thirsty child, but when combined with other symptoms noted here, it may indicate more problematic behavior. 

What to Do if You Think a Child is being Abused or Neglected 

The most important thing to do if you think a child is being abused or neglected is to speak with someone in a position to initiate some sort of action to investigate the issue potentially.

First, if you think that a child is in immediate danger, you need to call 911 immediately. 

If the child is not in immediate danger, there are other things you can do. Every state has its abuse and neglect hotline. By calling your state’s number or visiting its website, you can get more information about how to recognize signs of abuse and specific actions you can take in your state. You can also call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline for general information. 

It is important that you do not confront the abuser directly. If you are untrained, you may put the child in greater danger. Depending on the particular situation, you may even put yourself in danger.

Hotlines & Resources 

There is no question that child abuse is a serious problem. Educating yourself about the signs of child abuse and abusive parents can help save a child from a potentially dangerous situation. However, understanding the signs of abuse is only part of the solution. In the long run, you must be able to do something to stop the abusive behavior. Fortunately, the resources below can give you a better idea of recognizing child abuse and what to do if you suspect abuse is occurring. 

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