Emotional Abuse
Scope of this chapter
This chapter outlines sources of stress for children and families.
This chapter is currently under review.
Related guidance
Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional maltreatment of a child such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child's emotional development. It may involve conveying to children that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of another person. It may include not giving the child opportunities to express their views, deliberately silencing them or 'making fun' of what they say or how they communicate. It may feature age or developmentally inappropriate expectations being imposed on children. These may include interactions that are beyond the child's developmental capability, as well as overprotection and limitation of exploration and learning, or preventing the child participating in normal social interaction. It may involve seeing or hearing the ill-treatment of another. It may involve serious bullying (including cyberbullying), causing children frequently to feel frightened or in danger, or the exploitation or corruption of children. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of maltreatment of a child, though it may occur alone.
Emotional abuse can have a damaging effect on the child's mental health, behaviour or self-esteem.
One child in the family may be treated differently and emotionally abused by siblings as well as parents.
A child who lives in a household where domestic abuse, adult mental health problems or substance misuse by parents or carers are apparent, can suffer emotional harm.
A level of emotional abuse is involved in all other forms of abuse or neglect but may occur alone.
Last Updated: June 3, 2025
v7