Child abuse. How to know that the child is being mistreated

First of all it is important to clarify what is meant by child abuse. In short, it would be all that action (whether physical, emotional or sexual) or omission, that the parents or caregivers, intentionally, exercise on the child and cause physical and / or psychological damage. Types of abuse in ch

First of all it is important to clarify what is meant by child abuse. In short, it would be all that action (whether physical, emotional or sexual) or omission, that the parents or caregivers, intentionally, exercise on the child and cause physical and / or psychological damage.

Types of abuse in childhood

There are several types of abuse:

- Physical and / or emotional neglect in the care of children: depriving them of food, optimal hygienic-sanitary conditions, necessary medical treatment, children out of school or with a high rate of school absenteeism, allowing them to consume alcohol or drugs, indifference to their moods, being ignored, etc.

- Physical abuse: administer harmful substances, bind them, lock them up, hit them, burn them, apply severe punishments, etc.

- Emotional abuse: verbal abuse, children treated inappropriately, threatened, manipulated, etc.

- Sexual abuse: touching the child and forcing him to perform sexual touching, filming the child during sexual acts, etc.

We can find different physical, behavioral, emotional or sexual indicators in the child that can help us identify a situation of child abuse. However, these signs of suspicion must be assessed globally and no direct relationship must be established between a single symptom and child abuse.

How we can detect that the child suffers abuse

There are several types of indicators:

- Physical indicators: body pain, bumps, bruises of different evolution, burns or wounds in some area of ​​the body, difficulties to walk or sit, human bites , cuts or punctures, nose fractures, etc.

- Behavioral indicators: loss of appetite, sleep disturbances, hyperactivity, regression of behaviors, tendency to secrecy, aggression, school problems, crying, resistance to undressing or bathing, social isolation, enuresis or encopresis, etc.

- Emotional indicators: sadness, irritability, fear, hatred, feelings of guilt, impotence, shame, frustration, etc.

- Indicators in the sexual sphere: early behaviors or sexual knowledge unsuitable for their age, rejection of caresses, kisses and physical contact, etc.

It is convenient to know that although it is not usual, but there can be asymptomatic children, that is, children who apparently do not show obvious signs of abuse and who are being subjected to abuse.

Gemma Del Val Peralta
Psychologist at the Álava Reyes Psychology Center