Identify the symptoms that children who have been physically abused might show.

Identify the symptoms that children who have been physically abused might show.

• A. Frequent eye contact with strangers
• B. No behavioral changes
• C. Being overly cooperative
• D. Depression and withdrawal from social activities

Answer: (D)

Children who have suffered physical abuse often show emotional distress that leads to withdrawal and depressed mood. When a child experiences trauma from abuse, it’s common to internalize what happened, feeling sad, hopeless, or anxious, and to retreat from social interactions. Depression and withdrawal from social activities capture this pattern—child victims may pull away from friends, avoid group activities, and show diminished interest in things they once enjoyed, which are hallmark responses to trauma in many cases. Other patterns listed aren’t as typical for signaling abuse. For example, frequent eye contact with strangers isn’t a reliable sign of abuse; in many cases, children who have been harmed may fear or avoid strangers rather than seek more contact. Claiming there are no behavioral changes contradicts what we know about trauma responses, and being overly cooperative doesn’t align with common trauma reactions, which are more often associated with withdrawal or fear rather than excessive compliance.

Children who have suffered physical abuse often show emotional distress that leads to withdrawal and depressed mood. When a child experiences trauma from abuse, it’s common to internalize what happened, feeling sad, hopeless, or anxious, and to retreat from social interactions. Depression and withdrawal from social activities capture this pattern—child victims may pull away from friends, avoid group activities, and show diminished interest in things they once enjoyed, which are hallmark responses to trauma in many cases.

Other patterns listed aren’t as typical for signaling abuse. For example, frequent eye contact with strangers isn’t a reliable sign of abuse; in many cases, children who have been harmed may fear or avoid strangers rather than seek more contact. Claiming there are no behavioral changes contradicts what we know about trauma responses, and being overly cooperative doesn’t align with common trauma reactions, which are more often associated with withdrawal or fear rather than excessive compliance.