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News: Psychological abuse can increase a child’s risk of physical health problems

Physical abuse isn’t the only thing that can hurt a child.

A new study published in the journal Pediatrics says psychological abuse can be just as damaging as a slap, punch or kick—not only to a young child’s mental and emotional health, but also to their physical health.

Children exposed to psychological abuse have an increased risk in adulthood to certain physical health problems including heart disease and certain types of cancers, Dr. Marcella Fonaruma of the Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston told The Canadian Press.

“We are talking about extremes and the likelihood of harm, or risk of harm, resulting from the kinds of behavior that make a child feel worthless, unloved or unwanted,” Dr. Harriet MacMillan, a professor in the departments of psychiatry and behavioural neurosciences and pediatrics of McMaster University said in press release. She added that psychological abuse “can be as harmful as other types of maltreatment,” and “The effects of psychological maltreatment during the first three years of life can be particularly profound.”

According to Health Canada, an estimated 235,842 maltreatment-related investigations were conducted across Canada during 2008. 34 percent of those were neglect cases, while 9 percent involved emotional maltreatment.

Health Canada recommends contacting a women’s centre, social service agency or health care centre if you, or someone you know, if being abused.

What do you think? Is psychological abuse just as bad as physical abuse?

-Katharine Watts, Associate Web Editor

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Posted by onMonday, July 30th, 2012 - 3:05pm

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2 Comments

Having studied psychology at University, & having been the "poster" child of emotional abuse I have to believe that emotional abuse is as bad as physical abuse. Being born into a family where my mother had older children who definitly did not want this new intruder in the house caused a great deal of abuse. That abuse continued into adulthood, & in some measures is still there. I grew up beliving I was not loved & not good enough.I have suffered through some depression. Now I am dying from Lung Cancer! I totally believe there is a connection between childhood abuse & adult & childhood disease. The fact is that unhappiness lowers or open ups our system to disease.
Unfortunately a lot of emotional abuse stays hidden by children until the are old enough to tell what happened to them as children, and then no-one wants to believe it!

Submitted by AJW on Wed, 2012-08-01 8:10am.

I agree that long term, extreme abuse can cause that. I have personally experienced it by going through mild forms of depression all due to the way I was bullied in school or the punishments from my parents when I was a child. We all know that depression hurts.

The hard part though now a days is finding ways to make your child strong, still discipline them and have them understand what both success and failure is and of course shape them into great people.

Submitted by Jessica on Mon, 2012-07-30 6:32pm.