What Can Prevent a Child from Telling

Fear

The child may not know any better and think that sexual abuse happens to all children (offender may ‘normalize the victimization’)
The child may have been threatened to keep the abuse a secret.
The child may be afraid of being punished for doing something wrong.
The child may believe that what is happening is “my fault”
The child may be afraid of rejection, either by the parent or, in some cases, by the offender.
The child may be afraid of the negative reactions from friends and/or other family members.
The child may fear that people will treat her/him differently if they know about the abuse.
The child may be afraid of upsetting his/her parents and/or breaking up the family.
The child may be afraid that she/he may be sent away.

The child may not understand what or why this has happened to her/him.
The child may be confused when he/she has been abused by someone he/she loves and trusts.
The child may sense that the abuse is wrong, and therefore may have difficulty understanding why someone who loves her/him would do something like this.
The child may be confused because he/she both loves and hates the offender at the same time.
The child may believe that the abuse is wrong, yet be confused by the fact that some of it felt nice and she/he liked the attention.

The child may be in turmoil over losing someone who has been providing him/her with what he/she perceived to be love and affection (this could be a parent, a close family member, a trusted friend, an older mentor, a religious leader, etc...).
The child may wish to avoid the potential losses that could result from a disclosure in terms of the break-up of the family as she/he knows it.

The child may believe that her or his actions are to blame for the sexual abuse.
The child may think that she/he invited the abuse and rationalize that she/he deserved what she/he got.

Often, the child is so emotionally hurt by the abuse, or so embarrassed and/or ashamed of what has happened that it may seem easier for her/him just to remain silent about the entire incident.

Source: Central Agencies Sexual Abuse Treatement