NEW YORK, Oct 3, (Agencies): A recent study conducted by researchers from UCL (University College London) and Wingate University highlights the critical need to recognize childhood verbal abuse by adults as a distinct subtype of child maltreatment. The study, commissioned by the charity Words Matter and published in Child Abuse & Neglect: The International Journal, analyzed 149 quantitative and 17 qualitative studies to evaluate the current definitions and measurements of child verbal abuse.

Child maltreatment is typically categorized into four subtypes: physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect, serving as the basis for interventions and population monitoring. However, the study underscores the importance of establishing a consistent definition for childhood verbal abuse, as its interpretation varies among parents and authorities, and it may even be normalized as a form of discipline in some cultures.

Childhood verbal abuse encompasses behaviors that can harm a child's well-being, such as belittling, shouting, and using threatening language. These actions can have enduring emotional and psychological consequences, including an increased risk of anger, depression, substance abuse, self-harm, and obesity.

The researchers noted a significant gap in recognizing childhood verbal abuse by adults as a distinct subtype of maltreatment, emphasizing the need for its identification and prevention. Professor Peter Fonagy, co-author, and expert in UCL Psychology & Language Sciences, stressed the clinical significance of addressing this issue, as preventing child maltreatment is an effective way to reduce child mental health problems.

Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) reveals that emotional abuse is now the most prevalent form of child maltreatment, surpassing physical or sexual abuse. However, the term "emotional abuse" was found to be ambiguous, focusing primarily on the victim. In contrast, the term "childhood verbal abuse" directs attention to the actions of the adults involved, potentially serving as a starting point for prevention if recognized as a distinct subtype.

The study identified variations in terminology related to "verbal abuse" in different studies, with terms such as "verbal aggression," "verbal hostility," and "verbal abuse" being used. This underscores the importance of standardized terminology in addressing this issue.

The study revealed that parents (76.5%) were the primary perpetrators of childhood verbal abuse, followed by other adult caregivers in the home (2.4%) and teachers (12.71%). Shouting and screaming were the most commonly documented characteristics of verbal abuse. However, the study emphasizes that definitions of childhood verbal abuse should consider not only the words used but also the intent, delivery, and immediate impact on children.

To further understand the effects of childhood verbal abuse, additional research on specific age groups is needed. The lead author of the study, Professor Shanta Dube from Wingate University, stressed the urgency of acknowledging childhood verbal abuse as an abuse subtype due to its lifelong negative consequences.

Words Matter, a newly established charity founded by Jessica Bondy with the mission of enhancing children's overall health and well-being by curbing verbal abuse by adults, emphasizes the importance of recognizing and addressing childhood verbal abuse. Bondy highlights that it is crucial to collectively develop ways to identify and end childhood verbal abuse to ensure children can thrive. She underscores the significant impact words can have, either uplifting or destroying and calls for building children up rather than tearing them down.