Study: Verbal abuse has lasting consequences similar to physical abuse – WBAY

Report on the Impact of Childhood Abuse on Adult Mental Well-being and its Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

Recent research highlights the severe and lasting impact of childhood verbal and physical abuse on adult mental well-being. These findings have profound implications for the achievement of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning health, peace, and justice. This report analyzes the data and underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions to protect children from all forms of abuse, thereby fostering healthier and more sustainable societies.

Key Research Findings

Data from multiple studies reveal a critical public health issue with direct relevance to global development targets:

• A study in the BMJ Open medical journal, analyzing data from over 20,000 adults, found that childhood verbal abuse increased the likelihood of low mental well-being in adulthood by 60%.
• The same study reported that adults who experienced physical abuse as children had a 50% increased risk of low mental well-being.
• In the United States, the Youth Risk Behavior Survey indicated that over 60% of students reported experiencing mental abuse, while nearly 32% reported physical abuse.
• Global trends suggest a decline in physical abuse, potentially due to successful awareness campaigns, but a concurrent rise in verbal abuse.

Alignment with SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The research directly addresses SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. The findings are particularly relevant to Target 3.4: to promote mental health and well-being.

• The strong correlation between childhood verbal abuse and poor adult mental health demonstrates that non-physical violence is a significant barrier to achieving Target 3.4.
• Protecting children from all forms of maltreatment is a foundational preventative measure for safeguarding long-term mental health, reducing the burden on health systems, and fostering resilient individuals.
• Improving a child’s environment is a critical strategy for protecting them against future mental health challenges, contributing directly to the promotion of well-being as mandated by SDG 3.

Implications for SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

The report’s findings are central to SDG 16, especially Target 16.2: to end abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children.

• The high prevalence of verbal abuse highlights a form of violence against children that requires greater recognition and policy focus to meet the comprehensive goals of Target 16.2.
• The reported decline in physical abuse suggests that public awareness and institutional responses can be effective. This provides a successful model that should be adapted and expanded to combat the pervasive issue of verbal abuse.
• Achieving peaceful and inclusive societies requires addressing violence in its earliest forms, including the psychological violence inflicted through verbal abuse in homes and communities.

Recommendations and Call to Action

To address these challenges and advance the Sustainable Development Goals, a multi-faceted approach is required. The following actions are recommended for all stakeholders, including governments, civil society, educators, and community members:

1. Raise Public Awareness: Launch comprehensive awareness campaigns, similar to those targeting physical abuse, to educate the public on the severe and lasting harm caused by verbal abuse. This is essential for achieving the health and anti-violence targets of SDG 3 and SDG 16.
2. Promote Safe Environments: Implement policies and programs that foster safe, stable, and nurturing environments for all children. This includes providing support for parents and caregivers and ensuring all adults who interact with children are trained in mindful, positive communication.
3. Integrate into Education and Health Systems: Incorporate education on the impacts of verbal abuse into school curricula (supporting SDG 4: Quality Education) and routine health check-ups to ensure early detection and intervention.

SDGs Addressed or Connected to the Issues Highlighted

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • The article directly addresses the mental health and well-being of individuals, which is a core component of SDG 3. It highlights how childhood abuse, both physical and verbal, has long-term negative consequences on mental well-being in adulthood. The text states, “Cruel words can leave a mark on a child and may have as much impact when they’re older as physical abuse,” and that those who experienced abuse had a “50% increased risk of reporting low mental well-being” and a “60% increase in the likelihood of low mental well-being.”

2. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • This goal aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies, and a key part of this is protecting children from violence. The article focuses on “physical abuse” and “verbal abuse” against children, which are forms of violence that SDG 16 seeks to eliminate. The text mentions, “more than 60% of students who participated in the Youth Risk Behavior Survey reported experiencing mental abuse. Almost 32% reported physical abuse,” directly referencing the violence against children that this goal targets.

Specific Targets Identified

1. Target 3.4: Promote mental health and well-being

   • The article’s central theme is the impact of childhood experiences on long-term mental health. It discusses how verbal and physical abuse lead to “low mental well-being” in adults. The recommendation that “improving a child’s environment can help their well-being in the long run” and “protect them against future mental health challenges as an adult” directly aligns with the goal of promoting mental health and well-being.

2. Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children

   • This target is explicitly relevant as the article is entirely about the prevalence and impact of physical and verbal abuse against children. The study’s focus on raising “awareness about the impact of spoken abuse” and the reported decline in physical abuse due to “more awareness” are efforts that contribute directly to achieving this target.

Indicators Mentioned or Implied

1. Prevalence of low mental well-being in adults with a history of childhood abuse

   • The article implies this as an indicator for Target 3.4. It provides specific data points from a study: “adults who experienced physical abuse as a child had a 50% increased risk of reporting low mental well-being” and “Those who experienced verbal abuse had a 60% increase in the likelihood of low mental well-being.” These statistics measure the negative outcomes on mental health, which progress towards Target 3.4 would aim to reduce.

2. Proportion of children and students experiencing physical and mental/verbal abuse

   • This is a direct indicator for Target 16.2. The article provides clear statistics from the U.S. Youth Risk Behavior Survey: “more than 60% of students who participated in the Youth Risk Behavior Survey reported experiencing mental abuse. Almost 32% reported physical abuse.” These percentages serve as a direct measure of the prevalence of violence against children.

Summary of Findings

Source: wbay.com