X

Study Finds Emotional Abuse Just as Harmful as Physical or Sexual Abuse

Summary: A new study has found that emotional abuse is just as harmful as physical and sexual abuse, especially when it comes to impressionable children.

According to a new study, emotional abuse is just as harmful as sexual and physical abuse. But, not many people are talking about how harmful it can be to children.

Emotional abuse, also referred to as psychological abuse, has not laws against it.

To read more stories about emotional abuse, click here.

In the video embedded in this post, the host says the following: “And yet the American Academy of Pediatrics says it’s the most challenging and prevalent form of child abuse and neglect.”

The video talks about the new study and its findings:

“But according to a new study, children who are emotionally abused or neglected can develop similar and sometimes even worse mental health problems than kids who are sexually or physically abused. For this study researchers analyzed data from 5616 children with lifetime histories of physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological maltreatment or some combination thereof. Maltreatment in this case was defined as either abuse or neglect inflicted by a caretaker. So things like bullying, threats, severe insults, isolation etc.

What they found is that a staggering number of children, 62%, had a history of psychological maltreatment. And 24% of the cases they studied were exclusively related to psychological maltreatment. They also found that children who were victims of this kind of maltreatment suffered from anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, post-traumatic stress disorder and suicidal tendencies at the same rate, and in some cases at an even greater rate, than children who were physically or sexually abused.”

To read more stories about sexual abuse, click here.

Do you know anyone who has suffered from emotional abuse? Use our poll to share your thoughts on this topic.

Loading ...

Image credit: urbanistauk.com

Jim Vassallo: Jim is a freelance writer based out of the suburbs of Philadelphia in New Jersey. Jim earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and minor in Journalism from Rowan University in 2008. While in school he was the Assistant Sports Director at WGLS for two years and the Sports Director for one year. He also covered the football, baseball, softball and both basketball teams for the school newspaper 'The Whit.' Jim lives in New Jersey with his wife Nicole, son Tony and dog Phoebe.

Follow Jim Vassallo on Google+