The following is a list of possible
warning signs of child abuse or neglect. (Note: the presence of any one warning sign does not automatically mean that
the child is has been abused or neglected, and some warning signs overlap
between types of abuse).
Warning signs of possible emotional abuse
-
Being more
compliant and/or seeking affection more than usual
-
Low self-esteem
and/or low self-confidence
-
Severe or sudden
depression, anxiety, or aggression
-
Difficulty
making or keeping friends
-
Delayed
physical, emotional, and/or intellectual development
-
Headaches or
stomachaches with no medical basis
-
Caregiver (or
coach) who belittles the child, denies love or attention, and seems unconcerned
about the child's problems or well-being
-
Avoidance and/or
fear of specific situations or people
Warning signs of possible physical abuse
-
Frequent or
unexplained injuries, such as bruises, scratches, , fractures, broken bones,
bites, cuts, black eyes, and/or burns
-
Explanations for
injuries that do not make sense
-
Specific patterns
of burns, bruises, or other injuries that may suggest the use of an instrument
or inappropriate physical contact
-
Cigarette burns anywhere
on the body
-
Aggressive,
disruptive, and/or destructive actions
-
Abuse of pets or
other animals
-
Passive,
withdrawn, and robot-like behavior
-
Fear of going
home or seeing parents or fear of participating in sports
-
Injuries that
appear after a child has not been at school or sports practice for several days
-
Questionable clothing
that may cover injuries to arms or legs
Warning signs of possible sexual abuse:
-
Sexually-transmitted
diseases
-
Genital injuries,
perhaps suggested by bloody underwear
-
Pregnancy
-
Trouble sitting
or walking
-
Child suddenly
does not want to change for gym or practice
-
Fear of
washrooms, locker rooms, or closed doors, or fear of being alone with adults of
a certain sex
-
Nightmares
and/or bedwetting
-
Child attaches
quickly to new adults they come into contact with
-
Knowledge of
sexual relations or sexual behavior outside of what is reasonable for a child's
age
-
Sexual abuse of
other children and/or sudden interest in sex disproportionate for a child's age
-
It is important to note that sexualized behavior in
children is the result of sexual abuse, not its cause
-
Quitting the
team or being reluctant to return to the sports activity
-
Sleep disorders
-
Changes in
appetite
-
Running away
-
Reluctance to
talk
-
Frequent
vomiting
-
Falling grades
Warnings
signs of possible neglect (in an athletic context):
-
Poorly
maintained or unsafe equipment
-
Evidence of unsupervised overnight
trips; for example, athletes tell stories of going off by themselves for an
inappropriate reason, amount of time, etc.
-
Injuries that are left untreated, or exacerbated by repeated use
without time to heal
Charlotte Wilinsky is an intern at MomsTEAM and a graduate
student in the community social psychology master's program at the University
of Massachusetts Lowell. Her research interests include child maltreatment, especially abuse and neglect, and psychology and law. She earned her B.A. with honors in psychology from Amherst College,
where she was a member of the women's tennis team.
Teaser title:
Warning Signs of Abuse or Neglect in Sports
Teaser text:
There are many warning signs of possible abuse or neglect of a child.
Links:
[1] https://mail.momsteam.com/emotional-abuse/types-abuse-neglect-sports
[2] https://mail.momsteam.com/5-7/effects-abuse-neglect-in-sports
[3] https://mail.momsteam.com/health-safety/myths-about-abuse-in-sports-Celia-Brackenridge
[4] https://mail.momsteam.com/health-safety/emotional-injuries/general/abuse-in-youth-sports-takes-many-different-forms
[5] https://mail.momsteam.com/health-safety/sexual-abuse/warning-signs-sexual-abuse-by-coach-of-child