How shouting may affect children

Parents may sometimes raise their voices when children misbehave or refuse to listen.

However research suggests that repeated shouting insulting or threatening language could have negative effects on children’s emotional and physical well being.

A systematic review by researchers from Wingate University and University College London examined 166 previous studies on childhood verbal abuse.  The findings were published in Child Abuse & Neglect.

What counts as verbal abuse?

Child maltreatment is generally divided into four broad categories physical abuse, sexual abuse emotional abuse and neglect.

Verbal abuse is generally considered part of emotional abuse and can include behaviours such as shouting belittling insulting or threatening a child.  Researchers said more attention is needed to identify and prevent this type of behaviour.

Possible effects on children

The review found that childhood verbal abuse was associated with a range of emotional and behavioural difficulties.

These included anger depression and other psychological problems.  Some studies also linked childhood verbal abuse with behaviours such as substance misuse and self harm.

Possible physical health associations including obesity were also reported.

However the researchers noted that more research is needed, particularly to better understand how these effects may differ across age groups.

Choose words carefully

The charity Words Matter encourages adults to avoid shouting, insulting swearing at or using hurtful names for children. Experts also suggest thinking carefully before speaking in moments of frustration.

If an adult says something hurtful making an effort to repair the relationship afterward may also help.

A simple rule for parents

Elizabeth Gershoff, a professor at the University of Texas at Austin who studies parenting and discipline has previously suggested that when parents raise their voices they should avoid attacking the child’s personality.

The focus should instead be on the behaviour that needs to change rather than making the child feel that something is wrong with who they are.