Shocking! Yelling at kids can be as harmful as sexual or physical abuse, says new study

Whether you recall your own childhood days of being yelled at by your parents, or notice parents in your neighborhood yelling at their kid for not doing the homework, this verbal treatment of a child is quite common in most households. However, being common does not make it right.

The study was commissioned by the UK charity Words Matter and was published this month in the journal ‘Child Abuse & Neglect’. Researchers from Wingate University in North Carolina and University College London (UCL) analyzed 149 quantitative and 17 qualitative studies examining childhood verbal abuse (CVA).

The researchers call for childhood verbal abuse (CVA) to be officially recognized as a “form of maltreatment.”

The study found that the most common perpetrators of childhood verbal abuse (CVA) are parents, mothers, and teachers. Some of the effects of CVA can last throughout a child’s life.

The abuse can create “underlying emotional and psychological repercussions,” which include obesity, increased risks of anger, substance abuse, depression, and self-harm, UCL said in a statement.

Researchers say there needs to be a better way of defining CVA. Currently, there are four categories that comprise childhood maltreatment: physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect. According to the study, childhood emotional abuse has “increased in prevalence” throughout the years.

Read more: How to know if your child is suffering from mental health issues

Researchers concluded that acknowledging CVA as a type of maltreatment is a “starting point” for identifying and preventing it, reported New York Post. The study authors also suggest adult training on “the importance of safety, support, and nurturance during verbal communication with children.”

“Childhood verbal abuse desperately needs to be acknowledged as an abuse subtype, because of the lifelong negative consequences,” lead study author, Wingate professor Shanta Dube, said in a statement.

There are many better alternatives than yelling, that can help you build a positive and healthy relationship with your children while teaching them important life skills. Maintain your composure even when your child's behavior frustrates you. Make sure your children understand your expectations and rules. When they know what's expected of them, they're more likely to follow through.

Sometimes, a brief time-out can help both you and your child cool down. It gives them a chance to reflect on their behavior, and it gives you a moment to gather your thoughts. Express your feelings and concerns using "I" statements. For example, "I feel frustrated when the toys are left out" rather than "You always leave your toys out!" Praise and reward good behavior to encourage it. Positive reinforcement can be more effective than punishment.