Caution! Yelling at children can have lasting effects

Hello parents, teachers, coaches and all you adults who shape the minds of young people! Have you ever wondered about the impact of your words on children?

A ground-breaking study in the journal Child Abuse & Neglect has revealed that shouting at, belittling or verbally threatening children can be as damaging to their development as physical or sexual abuse.

The comprehensive study, which reviewed 166 previous research papers, called for childhood verbal abuse to be recognized as a separate category of abuse.

Currently, child abuse is divided into four categories: physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse (which includes verbal abuse) and neglect.

Research suggests that this distinction may inform prevention and treatment strategies.

What distinguishes verbal abuse from other forms of emotional abuse, such as indifference or the silent treatment, is its overt nature. The researchers argue that it deserves special attention because of its potential long-term consequences on the child’s well-being.

The study, commissioned by the British charity Words matter, paints a grim picture of the effects of childhood verbal abuse. It can lead to mental distress, including depression and anger, as well as externalizing symptoms such as criminal behavior, substance abuse, and even perpetrating the abuse itself.

Physical health can also be affected, increasing the risk of conditions such as obesity and lung disease.

Professor Shanta Dube, the lead author of the study, emphasized the urgent need to recognize verbal abuse as a subtype of abuse because of its lifelong negative impact. Jessica Bondy, founder of Words matterhighlights the importance of recognizing the true scale and impact of childhood verbal abuse.

Interestingly, the study points to a possible change in the landscape of child abuse. While physical and sexual abuse have decreased, emotional abuse, including verbal abuse, appears to be on the rise. This highlights the need for consistency in the definition and treatment of verbal abuse to accurately measure its prevalence and impact.

So what can you do to make a positive change?

Words matter offers valuable resources on their website to help adults avoid shouting, insults, berating or yelling when interacting with children. Remember, children absorb not only the words but also the feelings behind them. Repairing your relationship with a child after saying something hurtful is just as important.