Verbal abuse in childhood is just as destructive to the psyche as physical abuse.

A new large-scale study published in the open-access journal BMJ Open has found that childhood verbal abuse (humiliation, threats, teasing) has as much of an impact on mental well-being in adulthood as physical abuse. The analysis pooled data from seven population-based surveys covering 20,687 adults in England and Wales born between 1950 and 2000.

Key findings of the study

• Risks of Low Mental Well-Being

  • Verbal abuse is associated with a 64% increased likelihood of low mental well-being in adulthood.
  • Physical violence increases this risk by 52%.
  • The strongest effects were seen among those who had experienced both types of abuse, with the risk more than doubling (115%) compared with those who had not experienced abuse News-Medical.

• Components of mental wellbeing
  The Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale included optimism, sense of usefulness, relaxation, problem-solving, clarity of thought, closeness to others, and independence. Verbal abuse impaired each of these components to a similar extent as physical harm.

• Trends by generation

  • The proportion of reports of physical violence has declined from ~20% among those born in 1950–1979 to 10% among those born after 2000.
  • At the same time, verbal violence increased from 12% to about 20%.
  • Both types of abuse were more frequently recorded in areas with low socioeconomic status.

Why is verbal abuse so dangerous?

The authors emphasize that toxic stress from constant humiliation and threats activates neuroendocrine mechanisms similar to those that trigger physical violence. It can change the architecture of the brain, reduce emotional stability, and increase vulnerability to depression, anxiety, and social alienation.

“Verbal abuse is not just ‘bad words’. It is a source of chronic stress that can wreak havoc on the psyche over decades, just as much as physical abuse,” said Professor Mark Bellis, one of the study’s authors.

The authors highlight three key findings and recommendations:

1. Equivalent damage
   “We found that verbal abuse had just as strong a negative impact on mental wellbeing as physical abuse,” said lead author Dr Sarah Evans (University of Bristol). “This shows that words can hurt as much as blows.”

2. Rise in verbal abuse
   “Over the last few decades we have seen a decline in physical violence but a parallel rise in verbal violence in families,” says co-author Professor Michael Turner. “Policymakers and practitioners often underestimate its impact.”

3. The need for comprehensive measures
   “It is important for child protection and prevention programmes to include training for parents in communication without yelling, as well as early screening for any forms of abuse in schools and clinics,” concludes Dr Evans.

Call to Action

• Policymakers and health practitioners must expand child protection programs and address verbal abuse as well as physical abuse.
• Educational campaigns - to teach parents and teachers constructive methods of communication and conflict resolution without shouting and threats.
• Psychological assistance – early screening of all forms of child abuse in schools and clinics, access to therapeutic programs for victims.