Verbally abused kids may become depressed adults

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Children who are verbally abused are at risk of becoming self-critical adults prone to depression and anxiety, new research suggests.

In a study of more than 5,600 U.S. adults, researchers found that those who said their parents verbally abused them as children were at increased risk of depression and anxiety symptoms, which appeared to be caused by a tendency toward constant self-criticism.

The findings, say researchers, suggest that when parents use hurtful, degrading words, children come to see themselves in those terms—and the effect lasts into adulthood. 

"They start internalizing these words, like ‘you’re useless,’ ‘you’re stupid,’” lead study author Natalie Sachs-Ericsson told Reuters Health.

They believe they failed a test, for instance, because they are “dumb,” and not due to a manageable problem such as having trouble with long division, explained Sachs-Ericsson, a professor of psychology at Florida State University in Tallahassee.

These children are likely to take those beliefs into adulthood, which makes them vulnerable to developing depression and anxiety, according to the study, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.

The findings are based on data from a nationally representative survey of U.S. men and women who answered questions about childhood abuse, current psychiatric symptoms and their tendency to self-criticize.

Nearly 30 percent said they’d suffered some childhood verbal abuse - meaning their parents insulted them, said hurtful things out of spite, swore at them or threatened them with physical abuse.

These men and women were more likely to have symptoms of anxiety or depression, and the connection seemed to be fully explained by their tendency to self-criticize—dwelling on their mistakes, for example, or feeling that they weren’t the person they wanted to be.

“Parents need to recognize the long-term impact of these words,” Sachs-Ericsson said. Name calling and other forms of verbal abuse will not get children to change their behavior, she noted, and in the long term it may damage their mental health.

Instead, parents should focus on pointing out and reinforcing their children’s positive behavior, she said.

As for adults with symptoms of depression or anxiety, Sachs-Ericsson added, “they have to start looking at the way they talk to themselves.”

Self-criticism, she said, too often becomes an automatic reaction to any situation that does not turn out as hoped, and many people need to start challenging the negative labels they give themselves.

SOURCE: Journal of Affective Disorders, May 22, 2006.

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