All articles tagged with #child maltreatment
A meta-analysis reveals that childhood emotional abuse and neglect are linked to reduced trust in one's bodily signals, which may impair emotional regulation and increase the risk of mental health disorders, highlighting the need for greater awareness and intervention for emotional maltreatment.
Verbal abuse of children, including shouting and name-calling, is linked to low mood, drug abuse, and delinquency. A recent study argues that childhood verbal abuse should be recognized as its own category of child maltreatment. Defining the behavior that constitutes verbal abuse can help address this hidden problem and prevent harmful parenting. The study highlights the need for standardized measures and further research to support these findings. Understanding and defining child verbal abuse is crucial in promoting better parenting practices and preventing long-term mental health issues.
Researchers from UCL and Wingate University have conducted a systematic review highlighting the need to recognize childhood verbal abuse as a distinct subtype of child maltreatment. The study emphasizes the importance of consistent definitions and measurements of verbal abuse, as it can have lasting emotional and psychological repercussions on children. Verbal abuse, including actions like shouting and threats, can lead to increased risks of anger, depression, substance abuse, self-harm, and obesity. The study calls for targeted prevention efforts and the identification of childhood verbal abuse as a standalone subtype to address its harmful effects.
A new study published in the journal Child Abuse & Neglect suggests that adults shouting at, denigrating, or verbally threatening children can be as harmful to their development as sexual or physical abuse. The study calls for childhood verbal abuse to be recognized as its own category of maltreatment to facilitate prevention. Verbal abuse was categorized as more "overt" and deserving of special attention. The study highlights the lasting negative consequences of childhood verbal abuse, including mental distress, externalizing symptoms, and physical health outcomes. The prevalence of childhood emotional abuse has increased while physical and sexual abuse have declined, indicating a potential shift in childhood abuse. The study emphasizes the need for consistency in defining childhood verbal abuse and encourages adults to avoid shouting and insults when communicating with children.
New research published in Psychological Bulletin reveals that individuals who experienced childhood maltreatment, such as abuse or neglect, are more likely to exhibit higher levels of alexithymia (difficulty in identifying and describing emotions) in adulthood. Emotional abuse and neglect were found to be the strongest predictors of adult alexithymia. The study highlights the long-lasting effects of early experiences of maltreatment on emotional development and emphasizes the importance of addressing child maltreatment to promote emotional well-being. However, more research is needed to establish causality and explore cultural differences in this relationship.
A meta-analysis conducted by Stanford University researchers reveals a strong connection between childhood maltreatment, particularly emotional and physical neglect, and alexithymia in adulthood. Alexithymia, characterized by difficulty identifying and expressing emotions, can lead to challenges in social interactions and is often associated with psychological disorders. The study emphasizes the need for improved therapeutic interventions to help affected adults understand and regulate their emotions. Emotional neglect and physical neglect were found to be particularly strong predictors of alexithymia, while emotional abuse and physical abuse were also related but less strongly predictive. The research highlights the importance of caregivers in a child's emotional development and the potential long-term impact of maltreatment.