Editor’s Summary: This study examines the often-overlooked issue of emotional abuse in children, focusing on its severe and long-lasting impacts on development. It highlights the difficulties in recognizing emotional abuse due to its non-physical nature and varying definitions. The paper reviews current interventions, which primarily address physical or sexual abuse, and suggests improvements for more targeted programs and better professional training. Increasing public awareness and conducting more research are also recommended to enhance the protection of children from emotional abuse.
Emotional Abuse of Children: The Effects and Help
Abstract
This study looks at emotional abuse of children. First, we explore how it affects kids as they grow. Then, we look at why it’s hard to spot this abuse. Finally, we review current help and suggest ways to improve it.
1. Introduction
People often overlook emotional abuse when talking about child safety. For one thing, it’s hard to define and measure. As a result, this makes it tough to study and address. Therefore, we aim to answer three questions:
- How does emotional abuse affect kids as they grow?
- Why is it hard to spot and deal with emotional abuse?
- How can we better help kids who face emotional abuse?
2. Methods
We looked at studies about emotional abuse of children. Specifically, we focused on its effects, why it’s hard to spot, and current ways to help. Additionally, we looked at policies and research from Australia and other countries.
3. Results and Discussion
3.1 Effects of Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse can really hurt a child’s growth. Usually, it happens over a long time, not just once. Consequently, its effects can be deep and last a long time. Some effects are:
- Low self-esteem
- Feeling guilty or ashamed
- Feeling confused about who they are
- Feeling very anxious
- Staying away from others or being aggressive
- Health problems
- Trouble showing feelings
Later in life, it can lead to:
- Trouble making good relationships
- Using drugs
- Being homeless
- Mental health problems
- Hurting oneself
3.2 Why It’s Hard to Spot
Emotional abuse is hard to see for several reasons:
- Firstly, you can’t see it like you can see physical abuse.
- Secondly, people define it differently.
- Thirdly, kids might not know they’re being abused.
- Lastly, it might be a normal part of how the family acts.
As a result, these things make it hard for kids to ask for help. Similarly, they make it hard for others to see the abuse.
3.3 Current Help
Current ways to address emotional abuse include:
- Teaching kids about abuse and safety.
- Helping parents be better parents.
- Trying to change how society thinks about child abuse.
However, few programs focus just on emotional abuse. Instead, most look at physical or sexual abuse.
3.4 Making Help Better
To better address emotional abuse, we suggest:
- First, make more programs just for emotional abuse.
- Second, include emotional abuse in all child safety education.
- Third, train workers to better spot signs of emotional abuse.
- Also, tell the public more about emotional abuse.
- Finally, do more research on how to help with emotional abuse.
4. Conclusion
In summary, emotional abuse really hurts how kids grow. Unfortunately, people often miss it because it’s hard to spot. Moreover, current help doesn’t address this abuse well enough. Therefore, we need more specific programs and research. In addition, we need to teach the public and train workers better. Ultimately, these steps can help protect kids from emotional abuse.
References
Higgins, D. (2004). Differentiating Between Child Maltreatment Experiences. Family Matters, 69, 50-55.
Mason, J., & Falloon, J. (1999). A Children’s Perspective on Child Abuse. Children Australia, 24(3), 9-13.
Tomison, A.M., & Tucci, J. (1997). Emotional Abuse: The Hidden Form of Maltreatment. Australian Institute of Family Studies.
Australian Institute of Family Studies. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://aifs.gov.au/
