Emotional child abuse

Emotional abuse, also known as psychological abuse, is the most common type of child abuse.

Emotional abuse is when an adult deliberately and repeatedly causes a child emotional distress.

Emotional abuse can include:

• forcing a child to be humiliated or to perform a degrading act
• scaring or causing a child to be fearful
• rejecting or telling a child they are worthless, unwanted or unloved
• undermining, blaming, scapegoating
• constant criticism or unrealistic expectations
• name calling, threats, making fun of the child
• isolating a child from opportunities to learn, interactions with others
• withholding attention, ignoring or never showing affection
• exposure to distressing events including family and domestic violence, other types of violence and drug use
• bullying.

Often if a child is being emotionally abused they may also be suffering physical or sexual abuse or neglect.

Signs of emotional child abuse

Signs that a child is being emotionally abused include:

• lack of apparent connection with parents
• overly affectionate or clingy with strangers
• anxious or extra vigilant disposition
• emotional outbursts
• problems interacting with other children appropriately
• other symptoms of child abuse.

The impacts of emotional abuse can be long-term and cause serious harm to a child’s health, wellbeing and development.

Getting help

Worried about yourself, a friend or another family member? Get help here.

Find out more

For more information on child abuse, including the information on reporting child abuse, please refer to the DHHS website.