Neglect and emotional abuse can cause a child a lot of harm. It is often hard to see or prove this kind of abuse, so other people are less likely to help the child. When a child is being physically or sexually abused, emotional abuse is also often happening to the child.
Alternative Names
Neglect - child; Emotional abuse - child
Symptoms
EMOTIONAL ABUSE
These are examples of emotional abuse:
Not providing the child with a safe environment. The child witnesses violence or severe abuse between parents or adults.
Threatening the child with violence or abandonment.
Constantly criticizing or blaming the child for problems.
The child's parent or caregiver does not show concern for the child, and refuses help from others for the child.
These are signs that a child may be emotionally abused. They may have any of the following:
Problems in school
Eating disorders, leading to weight loss or poor weight gain
Emotional issues such as low self-esteem, depression, and anxiety
Extreme behavior such as acting out, trying hard to please, aggressiveness
Trouble sleeping
Vague physical complaints
CHILD NEGLECT
These are examples of child neglect:
Rejecting the child and not giving the child any love.
Not feeding the child.
Not dressing the child in proper clothing.
Not giving needed medical or dental care.
Leaving a child alone for a long time. This is called abandonment.
These are signs that a child may be neglected. The child may:
Not go to school regularly
Smell bad or be be dirty
Tell you that there is no one at home to take care of them
Be depressed, show bizarre behavior, or use alcohol or drugs
Treatment
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP
If you think a child is in immediate danger because of abuse or neglect, call 911 or the local emergency number.
Call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453). Crisis counselors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Interpreters are available to help in more than 170 languages. The counselor on the phone can help you determine what steps to take next. All calls are anonymous and confidential.
Dubowitz H, Lane WG. Abused and neglected children. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 16.
Review Date:
10/22/2022
Reviewed By:
Charles I. Schwartz MD, FAAP, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, General Pediatrician at PennCare for Kids, Phoenixville, PA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
