In a groundbreaking study, researchers have shed light on the severe consequences of adults shouting at, denigrating, or verbally threatening children. This verbal abuse has been found to be as harmful to a child’s development as sexual or physical abuse, according to the study published in the journal Child Abuse & Neglect.
The comprehensive analysis, which reviewed 166 earlier studies, underscores the need to categorize childhood verbal abuse as its own form of maltreatment, alongside physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect. The research was commissioned by Words Matter, a British charity dedicated to ending verbal abuse against children, and conducted by scholars from Wingate University in North Carolina and University College London.
Lead author of the study, Professor Shanta Dube, director of Wingate University’s Master of Public Health Program, emphasized the urgency of recognizing childhood verbal abuse as a distinct form of abuse due to its lifelong negative consequences. The study found that verbal abuse by parents, teachers, and coaches can lead to mental distress, externalizing symptoms like criminal behavior and substance abuse, and physical health issues like obesity and lung disease.
Jessica Bondy, the founder of Words Matter, highlighted the importance of acknowledging the scale and impact of childhood verbal abuse. She called for collective efforts to recognize and combat such actions to ensure children can flourish.
This study also noted a potential shift in the landscape of childhood abuse, with emotional abuse on the rise while physical and sexual abuse has declined, a trend observed since 2014 as reported by the World Health Organization and other sources cited in the study.
To address this concerning issue, researchers urged consistency in defining childhood verbal abuse, allowing for accurate measurement of its prevalence and impact, as well as the development of effective interventions. Resources available on the Words Matter website encourage adults to refrain from shouting, insults, putdowns, or name-calling when communicating with children. It also advises adults to think before speaking and take steps to repair relationships with children after hurtful words have been exchanged.
Elizabeth Gershoff, a professor at the University of Texas at Austin specializing in parental discipline, stressed the importance of avoiding critique while shouting and considering the age and temperament of the child. Toddlers may only absorb frustration, while older children may react differently to yelling.
This study serves as a wake-up call to society, emphasizing the critical need to address childhood verbal abuse as a significant public health issue and take concrete steps to protect the well-being of children.