Signs and indicators of child sexual abuse

Only a small number of children and young people will directly tell or convey to someone that they have been sexually abused. It’s more common for children and young people to tell people indirectly or inadvertently through behavioural changes.

Children and young people may express a range of physical and emotional symptoms that could mean they are distressed or going through trauma, including sexual abuse. If a child or young person shows any of the signs listed below, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’ve experienced sexual abuse. A child or young person’s behaviour can change for many reasons. However, these signs are indicators that something may be wrong, so it’s important they are taken seriously and not ignored.

If you notice any of these signs or suspect a child or young person has been sexually abused, you should ask them if someone has done something to make them uncomfortable or unsafe. You should help them to access support and report the abuse appropriately.

There are many factors that can influence how children and young people respond to abuse, including:

• their age and developmental level
• the type and duration of the abuse
• their relationship to the perpetrator
• their ability to process and express their emotions
• any previous experiences of trauma
• cultural beliefs, family dynamics and community attitudes.¹

Some children and young people who have been sexually abused will not show any obvious signs or symptoms. Understanding child sexual abuse and talking about it can help to prevent and identify child sexual abuse.

It’s also important to understand how to respond if a child or young person tells you they have experienced sexual abuse. Our Responding to child sexual abuse disclosures includes some helpful guidance.

Physical signs

Physical signs that a child may have experienced child sexual abuse include:

• headaches
• stomach aches
• bed-wetting
• change in appetite
• weight loss
• nightmares and sleep disturbances
• bruises on soft parts of the body, like buttocks or thighs
• changes in the genital area, such as redness, swelling or discharge
• sexually transmitted infections
• pain or burning when going to the toilet, including frequent urinary tract infections. ², ³

Behavioural signs

Children and young people who are sexually abused may find it difficult to process and deal with their distress after the trauma they have experienced. Emotional or behavioural changes could include:

• depression, anxiety and mood changes, including social withdrawal and disassociation
• sudden disinterest in previously enjoyed activities
• self-harm or suicidal ideation
• poor self-care or personal hygiene
• harmful and volatile substance use
• over-compliance and eagerness to please
• aggressiveness and anger
• running away
• sexual knowledge or activity that is inappropriate for their age
• overly sexualised behaviours, including towards other children or adults, dressing in highly sexualised ways or mimicking sexual activity during games
• drawings or descriptions that are sexually explicit and not age appropriate
• early or excessive use of pornography
• displaying intense fear or discomfort if topics related to sex (including child sexual abuse) are raised
• desexualisation – for example, wearing baggy clothes to hide their gender
• anxiety-related illnesses such as anorexia or bulimia
• unusual or new fears, such as avoidance of certain people and places, being alone or being close to others
• asking questions or making references to secrets and unusual ‘games’. ⁴

For very young children, or children and young people with disability, there are extra signs to consider:

• behavioural issues, particularly those the child or young person has not shown in the past, including emotional outbursts, self-harm and heightened aggression
• regression in developmental achievements
• developmental delays, for example, delayed speech, crawling or walking
• self-stimulatory behaviours, for example, rocking and head banging. ⁵

Signs of online child sexual abuse

In addition to those listed above, signs a child is experiencing sexual abuse online could include:

• a sudden change in use of technology, including spending a lot more or less time online, texting, gaming or using social media
• being secretive about online activities, including who they are interacting with and where they spend time using their devices (for example, going to another room)
• using devices at unusual hours
• secretly creating new accounts
• becoming distressed after receiving notifications
• becoming panicked about losing access to their device
• talking about a new friend or someone they met online
• making comments that hint something may have happened online, such as asking questions about whether parents can see what they do online. ⁶

Visit Online safety for more information.

Signs of grooming

Visit our Grooming page for information about the specific signs a child or young person may show if they are being groomed.

Other helpful resources

The following websites include more information about recognising the signs of child sexual abuse:

• Signs of sexual abuse in children and teenagers – Raising Children
• What are the Signs of Child Sexual Abuse? – Bravehearts
• Identify signs of child abuse – Victorian Government

¹ Raising Children, Raising Children Network, Signs of sexual abuse in children and teenagers. Accessed December 2025.

² Bravehearts, What are the Signs of Child Sexual Abuse? Accessed September 2023.

³ Raising Children, How to recognise signs of child sexual abuse in autistic children and teenagers and what to do. Accessed September 2023.

⁴ Victorian Government, Identify signs of child abuse. Accessed December 2025.

⁵ ThinkUKnow, What are the signs of online child sexual exploitation. Accessed December 2025.