Not only do children have to endure the physical signs and scars of sexual abuse, children who are being, or have been sexually abused commonly exhibit many different behavioral signs as well. Often, out of fear children keep quiet about the abuse that is happening to them, which is why it is so important for parents to know not only the physical signs of sexual abuse to look out for, but the behavioral signs as well.  If your child is acting out with the behaviors listed below, he or she just may be screaming out for help the only way that they know how.

• Being sexually-precocious

• Attempts to be unattractive: poor personal hygiene, oversized clothing, dressing in layers

• Inappropriately tight or revealing clothing

• Advanced sexual knowledge for their age

• Radical/severe mood swings

• Lying/stealing

• Sense of danger or high anxiety around home and family or certain environments and people

• Fear of confined spaces such as attics, closets, and bathrooms

• Sudden change in eating habits: overeating, under eating, or compulsive eating

• Hiding underwear or clothes in peculiar places

• Inappropriately seductive

• Heavy use of black and red colors in artwork, pictures depicting violence and death

• Boredom or indifference w/age appropriate friends and activities

• Nightmares, insomnia, sleepwalking, bedwetting

• Radical changes in school performance

• Sudden or seemingly out of place depression, irritability, and anger

• Substance abuse/addiction

• Has toys, money, or gifts without explanation

• Low or no self worth, guilt, shame

• Angry, hostile or aggressive behavior

• Afraid of adults or adolescents

• Afraid of being photographed

• High anxiety reaction to authority figures

• Fear or refusal of undressing in gym class

• Overly-compliant or accommodating

• Regressive behavior: acting much younger than he or she actually is

• Concentrated efforts to gain attention/affection from adults

• Recruiting other children to become involved with a particular adult

• Suicidal thoughts, gestures, and/or attempts

• Hinting towards sexual behavior

• Fear of nurturing/withdrawal/impaired ability to trust

• Self-mutilating behavior

• Avoids going home

• Neurological and verbal expressive delays

• Torturing/killing animals

• Self-hatred

• Memory loss

• Running away

• Fear of the dark

• Find reasons to avoid someone they used to spend time with

• Unable to concentrate, daydreaming, spacing out

• Withdrawn, isolated, or excessively worried

• Excessive or early masturbation

• Suddenly starts sucking thumb or fingers

• Sexualized play with toys and/or friends

• Fear of being left alone with a certain individual  

• Inappropriate kissing in young children

• Nervous or fearful around adults, men in particular

• Refuses to let someone, including a parent, change his/her diaper or give him/her a bath.

• Imaginary friend(s)

• Bowel movement accidents in older, toilet trained children.

It’s important to keep in mind that just because a child is demonstrating a behavior or two from this list does not necessarily mean that he or she has been for a fact, sexually abused.  If you are concerned that your child has been sexually abused, talk to your child, and contact the appropriate authorities.  This is by no means a complete list; as each and every child is going to cope with being sexually abused in his or her own way.  If you have suggestions for behaviors common in sexually abused children that you feel should be on this list, please leave a comment below. 

Related Articles:

• Orgasms During Rape and Sexual Abuse
• Is Masturbation a Sign that a Young Child has Been Sexually Abused?
• Believing Your Traumatized Child
• How can I get my Sexually Abused Teen to Bathe?

Image Credit: Nathalie Renaud