Child sexual abuse is a painful reality and is often difficult to identify. In most cases, children do not directly say what is happening to them, either because they do not understand the situation or out of fear or shame. The child’s age plays an important role in the disclosure of the abuse. The younger the child, the less likely they are to have the intellectual development necessary to understand the event, recognize the abuse, and disclose it to caregivers. On the other hand, it is precisely this perfectly natural “naivety” of young children that can lead them to recount the incident of abuse to a caregiver they trust.

Often, parents who seek the services of the Barnahus center come with various concerns regarding their young child’s moods and behaviors and ask us how they can tell if their child is a victim of sexual abuse.

Although there is no simple, straightforward answer to this question—since there is no standard, fixed set of symptoms that a child will necessarily exhibit after abuse—there are a number of psychological indicators that can guide us in answering this question.

It is important to emphasize that a single sign does not automatically confirm the existence of abuse, but the appearance of several persistent changes in the child’s behavior or state should be taken seriously and investigated.

► Age-Inappropriate Sexualized Behaviors

Probably the most direct indicator of possible sexual abuse of a child is the emergence of sexual behaviors or games with sexual content that are inconsistent with the child’s age and level of psychological development.

A major red flag is the emergence of sexual behaviors or knowledge that are not age-appropriate. These may include sexually explicit language, games with sexual overtones, excessive interest in the bodies of others or in their own private parts, as well as gestures or touching that go beyond normal childhood curiosity.

Clinical observations and the professional literature provide guidance on what is normal and problematic regarding sexual behaviors based on the child’s age. In this article, you will find more information about what is normal and problematic when it comes to sexual behaviors exhibited by children.

Provided that the young child’s family environment is free of any sexual behavior on the part of caregivers in the child’s presence, and the time the young child spends on electronic devices is closely supervised by an adult (to rule out the possibility that the child may have viewed sexually explicit material unintentionally and without the parent’s knowledge), the emergence of sexual behaviors typical of adult life should raise red flags for parents.

In addition to the emergence of sexual behaviors typical of adult life—which is a direct indicator of possible sexual abuse—there are a number of less specific indicators that we must also take into account. We say “less specific” because their presence does not directly indicate the existence of sexual abuse, since there is no standard, fixed set of symptoms that a young child develops following abuse.

► Emotional and Behavioral Changes

One of the most common signs is a sudden change in behavior. A child who was once cheerful and outgoing may become withdrawn, sad, anxious, or irritable. There may be episodes of crying for no apparent reason, intense fears (especially related to certain people or places), recurring nightmares, or difficulty sleeping. Some children may exhibit regression—for example, behaviors typical of younger ages may reappear, such as bedwetting, thumb-sucking, or difficulty separating from a parent.

► Physical or Somatic Changes

Although not always present, certain physical signs may raise suspicion: frequent pain in the genital or abdominal area, difficulty walking or sitting, recurrent infections, or vague complaints of physical discomfort. The child may also avoid activities that involve changing clothes or physical contact.

► Changes in relationships and social behavior

The child may begin to avoid a certain person without a clear explanation or, conversely, exhibit intense fear of ordinary situations. Difficulties may arise at preschool or school, along with a loss of interest in play and isolation from other children.

It is important to emphasize that the appearance of the symptoms described above does not automatically indicate that the child has been sexually abused, as changes in mood and behavior can have many other explanations. At the same time, as parents, it is essential to remain attentive to your young child’s mental state in order to detect any potentially risky situations in a timely manner.

Bibliography:

1. Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (2006), Report of the Task Force on Children with Sexual Behavior Problems;
2. Child Abuse & Neglect, Volume 73, November 2017, Pages 8–23, “Psychosocial symptoms in very young children assessed for sexual abuse: A qualitative analysis from the ASAC study.”

Article written by Patricia Aramă, clinical psychologist and expert psychologist specializing in the assessment and forensic psychological evaluation of children