In the family where sexual abuse is occurring, the abusive adult may:

• be overly protective of the child
• refuse to allow the child to participate in social activities
• be jealous of the child’s friends or activities
• accuse the child of promiscuity
• distrust the child
• have marital problems
• need to be in control or fear losing control
• be domineering, rigid, or authoritarian
• favor a “special” child in the family
• have been sexually abused himself/herself