Signs of Emotional Abuse From Parents

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsChild Abuse Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Getting HelpTypes of Emotional AbuseSignsImpact

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Child Abuse Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Getting Help

Types of Emotional Abuse

Signs

Impact

Close

This article discusses the types of emotional abuse, the signs to look for in children, and the impact it has on those who have had this experience.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),child abuseandneglectare entirely too common in the United States, with 1 in 7 children being a victim.While any child can be a victim of emotional abuse, the CDC notes that children living in poverty are at greater risk of abuse.

Whileemotional abusedoesn’t leave scrapes or bruises, it can leave severe emotional scars and be just as damaging to a child as physical or sexual abuse.However, because it doesn’t leave physical marks, it can be harder to recognize and more difficult to prove, so people and law enforcement authorities may be less likely to intervene and help the child.

If you are a victim of child abuse or know someone who might be, call or text theChildhelp National Child Abuse Hotlineat1-800-422-4453to speak with a professional crisis counselor.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you are a victim of child abuse or know someone who might be, call or text theChildhelp National Child Abuse Hotlineat1-800-422-4453to speak with a professional crisis counselor.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

These are some of the types of emotional abuse children may experience from their parents:

Emotional abuse can be perpetuated in person oronline, through text messages, emails, social media, and other digital apps or platforms.

Signs of Emotional Abuse

Signs of Emotionally Abused Children:

Signs of Emotionally Abusive Parents:

Toxic Mother: Definition, Signs, and How to Cope

Impact of Emotional Abuse By Parents

Emotional abuse can make a child feel unwanted, unloved, worthless, and flawed, according to a 2014 study.

Children who grow up with abusive parents may not be able to recognize the abuse, since that’s all they know.They may blame themselves for their parent’s actions and grow up believing that they are not worthy of love or respect.

Emotional abuse can be deeply damaging to children and havelifelong consequencesthat persist well after the abuse stops.These are some of the negative effects a child may experience as a result of emotional abuse:

Children who have been emotionally abused are more likely to be abusive to others or to seek out people who are abusive, because this is the relationship dynamic they grew up with.Therefore, they may become victims or perpetrators of abuse in the future.This is known as theintergenerational cycle of violence.

How Emotional Abuse in Childhood Changes the Brain

Final Thoughts

Emotional abuse can be difficult and traumatic for children to experience, leaving behind deep emotional wounds and severe negative consequences. Therefore, it’s important to recognize the signs andget helpfor children who might be at risk.

Reparenting in Therapy

10 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: Children’s Bureau.What is child abuse and neglect? Recognizing the signs and symptomsNemours Foundation.Abuse: What you need to know.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Fast Facts: Preventing child abuse and neglect.Medline Plus.Child neglect and emotional abuse.U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: Children’s Bureau.Definitions of child abuse and neglect.Washington State Department of Social and Health Services.Types and signs of abuse.Iram Rizvi SF, Najam N.Parental psychological abuse toward children and mental health problems in adolescence.Pak J Med Sci. 2014;30(2):256-260.Young JC, Widom CS.Long-term effects of child abuse and neglect on emotion processing in adulthood.Child Abuse Negl. 2014;38(8):1369-1381. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2014.03.008Li S, Zhao F, Yu G.Childhood maltreatment and intimate partner violence victimization: A meta-analysis.Child Abuse Negl. 2019;88:212-224. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.11.012Greene CA, Haisley L, Wallace C, Ford JD.Intergenerational effects of childhood maltreatment: A systematic review of the parenting practices of adult survivors of childhood abuse, neglect, and violence.Clin Psychol Rev. 2020;80:101891. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2020.101891

10 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: Children’s Bureau.What is child abuse and neglect? Recognizing the signs and symptomsNemours Foundation.Abuse: What you need to know.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Fast Facts: Preventing child abuse and neglect.Medline Plus.Child neglect and emotional abuse.U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: Children’s Bureau.Definitions of child abuse and neglect.Washington State Department of Social and Health Services.Types and signs of abuse.Iram Rizvi SF, Najam N.Parental psychological abuse toward children and mental health problems in adolescence.Pak J Med Sci. 2014;30(2):256-260.Young JC, Widom CS.Long-term effects of child abuse and neglect on emotion processing in adulthood.Child Abuse Negl. 2014;38(8):1369-1381. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2014.03.008Li S, Zhao F, Yu G.Childhood maltreatment and intimate partner violence victimization: A meta-analysis.Child Abuse Negl. 2019;88:212-224. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.11.012Greene CA, Haisley L, Wallace C, Ford JD.Intergenerational effects of childhood maltreatment: A systematic review of the parenting practices of adult survivors of childhood abuse, neglect, and violence.Clin Psychol Rev. 2020;80:101891. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2020.101891

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: Children’s Bureau.What is child abuse and neglect? Recognizing the signs and symptomsNemours Foundation.Abuse: What you need to know.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Fast Facts: Preventing child abuse and neglect.Medline Plus.Child neglect and emotional abuse.U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: Children’s Bureau.Definitions of child abuse and neglect.Washington State Department of Social and Health Services.Types and signs of abuse.Iram Rizvi SF, Najam N.Parental psychological abuse toward children and mental health problems in adolescence.Pak J Med Sci. 2014;30(2):256-260.Young JC, Widom CS.Long-term effects of child abuse and neglect on emotion processing in adulthood.Child Abuse Negl. 2014;38(8):1369-1381. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2014.03.008Li S, Zhao F, Yu G.Childhood maltreatment and intimate partner violence victimization: A meta-analysis.Child Abuse Negl. 2019;88:212-224. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.11.012Greene CA, Haisley L, Wallace C, Ford JD.Intergenerational effects of childhood maltreatment: A systematic review of the parenting practices of adult survivors of childhood abuse, neglect, and violence.Clin Psychol Rev. 2020;80:101891. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2020.101891

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: Children’s Bureau.What is child abuse and neglect? Recognizing the signs and symptoms

Nemours Foundation.Abuse: What you need to know.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Fast Facts: Preventing child abuse and neglect.

Medline Plus.Child neglect and emotional abuse.

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: Children’s Bureau.Definitions of child abuse and neglect.

Washington State Department of Social and Health Services.Types and signs of abuse.

Iram Rizvi SF, Najam N.Parental psychological abuse toward children and mental health problems in adolescence.Pak J Med Sci. 2014;30(2):256-260.

Young JC, Widom CS.Long-term effects of child abuse and neglect on emotion processing in adulthood.Child Abuse Negl. 2014;38(8):1369-1381. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2014.03.008

Li S, Zhao F, Yu G.Childhood maltreatment and intimate partner violence victimization: A meta-analysis.Child Abuse Negl. 2019;88:212-224. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.11.012

Greene CA, Haisley L, Wallace C, Ford JD.Intergenerational effects of childhood maltreatment: A systematic review of the parenting practices of adult survivors of childhood abuse, neglect, and violence.Clin Psychol Rev. 2020;80:101891. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2020.101891

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