Verbal Abuse in Childhood Linked to Greater Risk of Poor Mental Health in Adulthood, New Study Reveals

Published: 06 July 2025. The English Chronicle Desk

A recent comprehensive study has brought to light the profound and lasting mental health consequences of verbal abuse during childhood, suggesting that such emotional maltreatment can cause even greater long-term harm than physical abuse. The research, published in BMJ Open, analysed data from over 20,000 adults, revealing that children subjected to ridicule, humiliation, or threats face a 64% higher risk of poor mental wellbeing in adulthood.

The study, conducted across seven research projects between 2012 and 2024, utilised validated tools such as the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) questionnaire and the Warwick-Edinburgh mental wellbeing scale to evaluate the impact of childhood abuse on adult mental health. Participants were asked about their mental wellbeing over a two-week period, enabling researchers to assess the prevalence of low mental wellbeing in relation to their childhood experiences.

While physical abuse was linked to a 52% increased risk of poor adult mental health, verbal abuse was found to be even more damaging, associated with a 64% greater likelihood of low mental wellbeing. Those who experienced both forms of abuse had the highest risk, with nearly one-third (29%) reporting poor mental health outcomes, compared to 16% of individuals who reported no abuse during childhood.

Strikingly, the study noted a generational shift in abuse patterns. Physical abuse declined significantly over time—from approximately 20% among those born between 1950 and 1979, to just 10% in individuals born after 2000. In contrast, verbal abuse increased, rising from 12% in those born before 1950 to nearly 20% among the youngest cohort studied.

Lead author Professor Mark Bellis of Liverpool John Moores University emphasised the gravity of these findings. He stated, “Our study reveals that degrading, humiliating and abusive language directed at children can have long-term mental health impacts at least as severe as those associated with physical abuse.” He also warned that the rise in verbal abuse might negate the mental health benefits anticipated from reductions in physical abuse.

The study acknowledged certain limitations, such as the inability to quantify the severity of abuse or fully explain the reasons behind the changing trends. However, Professor Bellis called for a shift in approach: “We must go beyond telling parents what not to do, and instead offer clear, practical support and guidance that allows them to raise their children through healthy, nurturing relationships.”

Further insights from the research revealed that participants born after 2000 exhibited a higher prevalence of low mental wellbeing overall. Gender differences were also observed: men were more likely to report feelings of pessimism and social isolation, while women more frequently reported struggling to feel relaxed.

Jessica Bondy, founder of the charity Words Matter, which campaigns against childhood verbal abuse, welcomed the study’s findings. She remarked, “Words can wound deeply and have a lasting impact on a child’s mental health and development.” She also cautioned that any progress made in reducing physical abuse could be undermined by rising verbal abuse rates. “We need to build children up—not knock them down. The mental health of the next generation and our shared future depend on it.”

As society continues to recognise the critical role of early childhood experiences in shaping adult wellbeing, this study underscores the urgent need to address verbal abuse with the same seriousness as physical maltreatment, advocating for comprehensive parental support and public awareness to foster healthier environments for children to thrive.