Warning Issued by Scholars: Verbal Abuse Toward Children Can Inflict Enduring Damage Comparable to Physical or Sexual Maltreatment

Warning Issued by Scholars: Verbal Abuse Toward Children Can Inflict Enduring Damage Comparable to Physical or Sexual Maltreatment

Child mistreatment is traditionally categorized into four primary types: physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect. A scholarly investigation published in the journal Child Abuse & Neglect scrutinized the definitions and metrics associated with child verbal abuse. The research underscores the necessity for a uniform definition, given that what constitutes verbal abuse can vary culturally and is sometimes viewed as disciplinary action. Types of verbal abuse encompass actions like demeaning comments, shouting, and threats, all of which can result in emotional and psychological damage to the child. The study calls for the recognition of verbal abuse as a separate classification within child mistreatment.

A comprehensive review conducted by academics at University College London (UCL) and Wingate University accentuates the urgency of categorizing verbal abuse perpetrated by adults against children as a unique form of child mistreatment. This is essential for the implementation of specialized preventative measures and to address the irreversible harm such actions may cause.

Child mistreatment is currently segmented into four classifications, namely physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect. These categories serve as frameworks for developing interventions and for monitoring affected demographics.

The research, which was commissioned by the charitable organization Words Matter, examined 149 quantitative and 17 qualitative studies to evaluate how child verbal abuse is presently defined and quantified.

The investigators identified a pressing need for a more standardized method of defining child verbal abuse, which is currently inconsistently labeled by parents and other authorities. Furthermore, in certain cultures, it is considered normalized discipline.

Nature and Ramifications of Verbal Abuse

Childhood verbal abuse consists of behaviors detrimental to a child’s welfare, such as disparaging comments, shouting, and intimidating language. The study revealed that such actions can have long-term effects on the child, leading to emotional and psychological issues including heightened risks of anger, depression, substance misuse, self-injurious behavior, and obesity.

Nevertheless, the researchers pointed out an evident gap in formally recognizing childhood verbal abuse by adults as an independent subtype of mistreatment, suggesting that this could serve as a basis for its identification and prevention.

Co-author Professor Peter Fonagy of UCL Psychology & Language Sciences stated, “This comprehensive review is both timely and of substantial clinical importance. The most effective approach to reducing the incidence of child mental health issues is to prevent child mistreatment. Focused attention on childhood verbal abuse by adults, facilitated by the new charity Words Matter, will significantly aid in targeting and addressing this risk efficiently.”

Global Data and the Imperative for Unambiguous Definitions

Data sourced from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that emotional abuse is currently the most common form of child mistreatment, surpassing both physical and sexual abuse. However, the term “emotional abuse” is considered ambiguous and victim-focused.

Contrastingly, the term “childhood verbal abuse” places responsibility on the actions of the adult, providing a more actionable starting point for preventive measures if recognized as a distinct subtype.

The study also highlighted the existence of varying terminologies related to “verbal abuse,” with phrases like “verbal aggression,” “verbal hostility,” and “verbal abuse” being employed. This underscores the necessity for standardized terminology in this domain.

Perpetrators and Traits

The review found that parents were the principal perpetrators of childhood verbal abuse, accounting for 76.5% of cases, followed by other adult caregivers in the home at 2.4%, and teachers at 12.71%. Additional adults identified were coaches (0.6%) and police (0.6%).

The most commonly observed characteristics of verbal abuse were shouting and screaming. The study emphasizes that definitions of child verbal abuse should consider not only the language but also the intent, delivery method, and immediate impact on the child.

Further investigations are needed to comprehend the implications of this behavior across various age groups.

Lead author Professor Shanta Dube of Wingate University, U.S., remarked, “Recognition of childhood verbal abuse as a distinct form of abuse is crucial due to the lifelong negative outcomes it imposes. Significant progress has been made in raising awareness and interventions concerning physical and sexual abuse. By focusing on ‘verbal abuse’ perpetrated by adults, similar strategies for its prevention and mitigation can be developed.”

Jessica Bondy, the Founder of Words Matter, a newly founded charity aiming to improve children’s overall well-being by reducing verbal abuse, stated, “Understanding the true extent and impact of childhood verbal abuse is crucial. It is imperative that we collaboratively identify and put an end to such behavior so that children may thrive. Words carry weight; they have the power to either uplift or devastate. We must choose to uplift.”

Reference: “Childhood verbal abuse as a child maltreatment subtype: A systematic review of the current evidence” by Shanta R. Dube, Elizabeth T. Li, Guilherme Fiorini, Caleb Lin, Nikita Singh, Kumayl Khamisa, Jennifer McGowan and Peter Fonagy, published on 14 August 2023 in Child Abuse & Neglect.
DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106394

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Childhood Verbal Abuse

More about Childhood Verbal Abuse

• Child Abuse & Neglect Journal
• University College London Research Publications
• Wingate University Academic Resources
• World Health Organization Child Maltreatment Data
• Words Matter Official Website
• Psychological Impact of Childhood Verbal Abuse: A Meta-analysis
• Child Maltreatment and Public Health Guidelines
• Emotional and Psychological Abuse: Definitions and Statistics