RELATIONSHIPS TOXICITY AND ABUSE

Child Abuse: Signs, Types, Impact

By Elizabeth Plumptre Updated on May 09, 2023

Medically reviewed by Ann-Louise T. Lockhart, PsyD, ABPP

LumiNola / Getty Images

Table of Contents

Indicators of Child Abuse

Types of Child Abuse

Impact of Child Abuse

How to Manage the Effects of Child Abuse

Child abuse is the wrongful treatment of a child. It may be in the form of

physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. This form of abuse may also be
recognized as the exploitation of a child, as well as the failure to properly
care for a child, otherwise known as neglect.
Children that are subjected to abuse usually experience harm to their
health, welfare, and self-respect. [1]

This article covers the many forms of child abuse, how each form impacts
a child's mental and physical well-being, and discusses how childhood
trauma can be treated.

If you are a victim of child abuse or know someone who might be, call
or text the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453
to speak with a professional crisis counselor.

For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline

Database.

Indicators of Child Abuse

When a child is experiencing ill-treatment from a caregiver or other
person, there are signs that may indicate abuse. These include: [2]

Signs of Physical Abuse

Unexplained facial injuries
Injuries on forearms
Burn marks on the skin
Bruises on the ears
Oral and dental injuries
Dislocations around the body
Internal damage
Vomiting or breathing difficulties due to head trauma

Signs of Sexual Abuse

Bruising around the genitals
Painful urination or defecation
Discharge around the genital or rectal areas
Difficulty walking or sitting

Signs of Neglect
Poor hygiene
Improper clothing during the seasons
Lack of access to medical care
Worsening medical conditions
Poorly-tended wounds
Hair loss
Malnutrition
Low weight

Behavioral Cues of Child Abuse

Excessive crying in infants
Nightmares
Bedwetting
Poor concentration
Development of phobias
Eating issues
Displays fear around parents/caregivers
Speech difficulties
Poor performance at school
Substance abuse
Discomfort while undressing
Docile during physical exams
Withdrawing when touched

Related: Mental Health Effects of Different Types of Abuse

Types of Child Abuse

Child abuse is committed in epidemic proportions in the United States.
Every year, approximately one million children [3]are deprived of a normal,
harm-free childhood. Instead, they are subjected to the horrors of
maltreatment in their formative stages.

The abuse of children may take different forms, listed below.

Physical Abuse
This form of abuse refers to the deliberate physical harm of a child by
parents or caregivers. Physical abuse affects around 18% of maltreated
children, [4] and is a leading cause of child deaths—homicide falling in
second for the loss of infant lives younger than one. [4]

Physical abuse may involve hitting a child with hands or an object.

Burning, biting, or physically restraining a child with the intent to do
harm is also considered physical abuse.
 Children of all races, ethnicities and economic groups may be subject
to physical abuse. It is, however, more commonly observed in boys
and infant children. [1]

A child is also at a higher risk of physical abuse where they live with a
disability or are under the care of an unmarried mother. [1]

There is also an increased chance of violence where a child is raised in

poverty, or in a home where domestic violence is rampant. The same goes
in situations where a child grows up with an unrelated adult, or with more
than two siblings at home. [1]

Emotional Abuse
This form of abuse may not always have the immediately apparent signs
of physical harm but is no less painful.

Emotional abuse occurs where a child is degraded, terrorized,

isolated, or exploited by a parent/caregiver. This is seen where a child
is constantly criticized, threatened, rejected, or given no support or
love while growing up.

In 2010, The Federal Report of Child Maltreatment Statistics stated that

8% of all reported cases of child maltreatment involve emotional abuse.
There is a chance that cases of emotional abuse may be even higher than
those reported. [5]

Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse refers to the forceful participation of children in sexual acts.

It may also involve forcing a child to engage in sexual acts that they do
not fully understand. This abuse may also force children to engage in
sexual acts that they do not fully understand.

Sexual abuse includes sexual assault, rape, incest, fondling, oral

sexual contact, the commercial sexual exploitation of children, or
genital/anal penetration. [6] Sexual abuse is a worryingly common
form of child abuse. By adulthood, it is estimated that 26% of girls
and 5% of boys will experience this maltreatment. [7]
While sexual contact typically makes up sexual abuse, non-contact
improper treatment may also come under the abuse classification. This
includes the exposure of a child to sexual activity or taking inappropriate
photographs of children.

Neglect
This is the failure of a caregiver/parent to meet the most basic needs of a
child. It is the most common form of child abuse where approximately
two-thirds of reports to child protective services are made over concerns
of child neglect. [8]

Neglect takes many forms and can be observed where a child is not taken
for regular doctor appointments, or is denied access to healthcare by a
caregiver.

This form of abuse is also apparent where a child is not given the right
nutritional care, or when children are exposed to harmful substances like
drugs. [8]

Impact of Child Abuse

Abuse has far-reaching effects on every aspect of a child’s well-being.

Impact of Physical Abuse

Physically, children may suffer the pains of fractures, burns, facial or
bodily disfigurement, and even seizures brought on by bodily
maltreatment. The mental effects of this treatment may leave children
with PTSD or even cognitive retardation. [1]

Impact of Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse may cause a disconnect in a child’s sense of self. This

abuse could be responsible for negative disruptions in the brain, anxiety,
depression, low self-esteem, hostile behaviors, and noticeable delinquent
habits such as alcohol use in early adulthood. [5]

Impact of Sexual Abuse

The sexual abuse of children has both immediate and long-term effects on
their well-being. Survivors of child sexual abuse may feel anger, guilt, and
shame over the treatment they have endured.
Children who have experienced sexual abuse are also at a higher risk of
developing anxiety, depression, and inappropriate sexual behaviors in life.
In later years, these survivors may experience problems like alcoholism,
drug dependency, marriage/family difficulties, and a worrying
preoccupation with suicide. [6]

Impact of Neglect
A child left without the useful tools and care for proper development may
perform poorly in school. This child is also likely to display emotional and
behavioral problems as a result of their abandonment.

Later difficulties in life like liver and heart disease may also be traceable
to poor treatment received in childhood. [8]

How to Manage the Effects of Child Abuse

In suspected cases of child abuse at the hands of a parent or caregiver, this
treatment should be reported to child protection services or other relevant
law enforcement agencies.

Children that have been physically abused should then be stabilized, with
examinations carried out to determine the extent of the ill-treatment
endured.

Physical, emotional, and sexual abuse victims, as well as children that

have lived through neglect, need appropriate care. These children
may be protected using treatments like psychotherapy, medication, or
a combination of both.

Therapy is useful for addressing the issues linked with abuse and neglect.
It is also necessary to teach a child appropriate behaviors for adult-child
relationships. Therapy can also provide a support system for poorly
treated children. [9]

Medication may be recommended for the PTSD, anxiety, depression, and

other pains associated with abusive treatment. [10]

Maltreatment is a painful thing to experience during development. The

different forms of child abuse have far-reaching effects on welfare, but
may be managed using the right methods.
 Related: Healing From Childhood Abuse With Former NFL Player Reggie
Walker

A Word From Verywell

Child abuse is an alarmingly common form of abuse. With many different
forms, children are exposed to multiple ripple effects from the
maltreatment they've been subjected to. While recovery from a life
punctuated by physical assault, sexual violence, or neglect can be difficult,
healing is possible. Putting a child affected by abuse in therapy, or placing
them on medication to manage adverse outcomes are effective ways to
manage child abuse. To protect a child against abuse, it's important to
report suspected cases of ill-treatment to the correct authorities.

Read Next: Help for Parents Wrongly Accused of Child Abuse

10 Sources

By Elizabeth Plumptre
Elizabeth is a freelance health and wellness writer. She helps brands
craft factual, yet relatable content that resonates with diverse
audiences.

See Our Editorial Process

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