Ages 1-6:
Bedwetting
Excessive crying
Immobility
Running
Excessive clinging
Thumbsucking
Enuresis
Encopresis
Fear of darkness
Fear of animals
Fear of being left alone
Fear of crowds
Asking to be dressed or fed
*Night terrors
*Nightmares
Inability to sleep without a light or someone present
Wakening (fretful sleep pattern)
Sensitivity to noise
Irritability
Confusion
Speech problems
Eating problems
Injury to the body
Poor health
Frequent illness
Lethargy
Physical neglect (diaper rash, sores)
Vaginal or rectal discharge (often associated with sexual abuse)
*Shyness, withdrawn behavior
Low self-esteem
Reluctance to be touched
Difficulty in preschool or daycare (aggressiveness, biting,
hitting,difficulty in sharing)
Excessive fantasy in play
Ages 6-11:
Bedwetting
*Night terrors
*Nightmares
Sleep problems
Unwillingness to fall asleep
Interrupted sleep
Need for night light
Fear of sleeping alone
Fear of darkness
Irrational fears
Irritability
Disobedience
Excessive clinging
Headaches
Nausea
Refusal to go to school
Visual or hearing problems
Poor performance
Fighting
Withdrawal of interest
Loss of ability to concentrate
Distractibility
Withdrawal
Injury to the body
Frequent illness
Psychosomatic complaints
*Eating disorders
Repetitive self-abuse
Nervous disorder (stuttering, tics, etc)
*Lack of motivation
*Poor grades
Depression
Need to be perfect/ Parentified behavior
*Attention-seeking
Sophisticated knowledge of sex
Drug/Alcohol abuse
Regression
Protective of mother
*Difficulty with siblings
Identification with aggressor
Ages 12-18:
Withdrawal & isolation
Headaches
Stomach Pain
Depression & sadness
**Suicidal ideation
Stealing
Aggressiveness
School problems
*Sleeplessness
Night terrors
Increased sleep
Confusion
Injury to the body
Loss of childhood
"Perfect child" or "caretaker"
Helplessness
Anger at abused parent (loss of respect)
Identification with the aggressor
Fear of bringing friends home
*Delinquent behavior
*Difficulty with siblings
Drug/Alcohol abuse
Sexual acting out
*Although these responses are considered normal, should they continue even for an extended period of time (or they are excessive), help should be sought.
**Any suicidal verbalization indicates a need for professional help.
List developed by :
SADV, Inc., Baltimore County
Fantuzzo, J.W., DePaola, L.M., Lambert, L., Martino, T., Anderson, G.,
and Sutton, S. (1991). Effects of Interparental Violence on the Psychological Adjustment
and Competencies of Young Children. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. Vol. 59, No. 2, p.
258-265.
Jaffe, P.G., Wolfe, D.A., and Wilson, S.K. (1990). Children of Battered Women. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications
Rossman, B.B.R. and Rosenberg, M.S., (in Press). Psychological Maltreatment: A Needs Analysis and Application for Children in Violent Families. Current Treatment and Research in Family Violence and Abuse, Assault, and Aggression, 1.
Straus, M.A., Gelles, R.J., and Steinmetz, S. (1980). Behind Closed Doors. Doubleday, Anchor.
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