Emotional abuse as bad as physical abuse
Emotional abuse, which includes ridicule, intimidation, rejection, and humiliation, may be as harmful to children as physical abuse and neglect.
Emotional abuse occurs more often than physical abuse or neglect, but the study says that both emotional and physical pain activate the same part of the brain. All three types of abuse have the similar effect ranging from anxiety, depression, to aggression.
McGill University professors observed 2,300 low-income, school-aged children attending summer camp. Half of the campers were reportedly abused, but the researchers have no idea which half. Various types of child-, peer-, and counselor-reports were used to assess psychiatric and behavioral problems.
“We also tested other assumptions about child maltreatment,” adds Vachon, “including the belief that each type of abuse has specific consequences, and the belief that the abuse has different consequences for boys and girls of different races.” Once again, the study produced surprising findings: “We found that these assumptions might also be wrong. In fact, it seems as though different types of child abuse have equivalent, broad, and universal effects.”
The study may significantly change how researchers, clinicians, and the public think about child abuse. “One implication,” adds Vachon, “is that effective treatments for maltreatment of any sort are likely to have comprehensive benefits. Another implication is that prevention strategies should emphasize emotional abuse, a widespread cruelty that is far less punishable than other types of child maltreatment.”
When asked about next steps, Vachon said, “One plan is to examine the way abuse changes personality itself — does it change who we are? The point is to go beyond symptoms and ask whether abuse changes the way we tend to think, feel, and act.”
Category: Features, Health alert
