Verbal Abuse as Damaging to Mental Health in Adulthood as Physical Abuse, According to New Research
A new study published in the journal BMJ Open reveals that verbal abuse during childhood can leave lasting mental health scars equivalent to those inflicted by physical abuse.
The research shows that individuals who experienced physical abuse as children were 50% more likely to report poor mental health in adulthood compared to those with no history of abuse. Surprisingly, the likelihood increased to 60% for those subjected to verbal abuse.
The study, which analyzed data from over 20,000 adults across seven studies in England and Wales, used the Adverse Childhood Experiences tool to evaluate childhood experiences and components of adult mental health using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale.
Lead study author Dr. Mark Bellis, professor of public health and behavioral sciences at Liverpool John Moores University in the UK, explained that “the results suggest that verbal abuse in childhood can leave mental health scars as deep and long-lasting as those caused by physical abuse.”
The prevalence of physical abuse has halved over time, from 20% in people born between 1950 and 1979 to 10% in those born after 2000. However, verbal abuse has shown an upward trend.
In the United States, more than 60% of participants in the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey reported experiencing emotional abuse, and 31.8% reported physical abuse. The survey categorized emotional abuse instead of verbal abuse but addressed similar behaviors as the latest study.
The rise in verbal abuse while physical abuse declines emphasizes the need for increased awareness about spoken abuse due to its lasting impact. Dr. Shanta Dube, professor of epidemiology and director of the department of public health at the Levine College of Health Sciences at Wingate University in Wingate, North Carolina, noted that emotional abuse is often conflated with verbal abuse, leading it to be overlooked.
Dr. Andrea Danese, professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at King’s College London and adjunct clinical professor at the Yale Child Study Center, explained that harsh words spoken to children can include blaming, insulting, scolding, criticizing or threatening them. He added that such comments can have a concrete impact on children due to their literal interpretation of language.
The study does not definitively establish that verbal abuse in childhood causes poorer mental health in adulthood but demonstrates a link between the two. However, its large sample size and strong approach add to the existing evidence around the impacts of verbal abuse.
Researchers emphasize the importance of understanding factors contributing to long-term mental health issues, as poor mental health is becoming a significant global public health concern, particularly among adolescents and young adults. Improving childhood environments can enhance mental well-being and build resilience against future challenges.
Parents and caregivers with more information and support may create better home environments for their children by fostering emotional regulation skills, encouraging emotional attachment, developing communication skills, and modeling positive problem-solving behaviors.
The issue of verbal abuse does not only concern parents; all adults interacting with children should be mindful of its impact. Rather than shaming adults, the focus should be on promoting a cultural shift towards being more mindful about language used toward children and offering apologies, corrections, and explanations when necessary.