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More than a third of South African children under the age of 17 suffer emotional abuse and neglect, resulting in invisible scars that put them at greater risk of mental illness and limit their chances of a fulfilling and functional adult life.
The 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children campaign runs from 25 November to 10 December, and during this time the focus is also on emotional abuse and neglect.
Dr Eugene Allers, spokesperson for the South African Society of Psychiatrists (SASOP), said almost 70% of South African children will experience any type of abuse before the age of 17, and 27% will be victims to multiple types of abuse.
’Often, the abused become abusers’
The impact of this on children’s future mental health is substantial, with a third of all psychiatric disorders originating before the age of 14, and half before 18 years of age.
Psychological abuse and neglect of children’s emotional needs for affection and support is committed most often by those closest to them, those responsible for their nurturing and development.
These include parents, caregivers and relatives, and cuts across all levels of society and income.
While physical and sexual abuse are regularly seen in the courts and headlines, psychological abuse, including emotional neglect, receives much less attention and awareness.
Yet, it is one of the most traumatic forms of abuse that a child can experience, Allers said.
“Children should be given the best opportunities in life, living in loving homes, free from all forms of abuse. This will ensure their optimal development, with less chance of psychological or psychiatric problems later in life.
“Children that are abused, often become abusers, continuing the vicious cycle. The childhood trauma of emotional abuse and neglect affects the child’s sense of self and their capacity to trust and build healthy relationships.”
‘Emotional abuse more subtle, ongoing’
The Children’s Act of 2005 defines abuse as any form of harm or ill-treatment deliberately inflicted on a child, including assault, deliberate injury, sexual abuse, bullying, exploitation or exposing or subjecting a child to behaviour that may harm the child (such as exposure to domestic violence).
Allers said emotional abuse is more subtle, ongoing, and generally not connected to a single incident such as a beating or sexual assault.
Emotional or psychological forms of abuse include withholding love and support, rejection, berating and threatening the child, insults and name-calling, belittling or humiliation, cold-shouldering, guilt-tripping, and emotional blackmail.
Acts of emotional neglect include spending little time interacting or talking with the child, being unresponsive to or dismissing their feelings, giving little positive feedback or praise, persistently finding fault, and offering little help or encouragement when they are struggling with schoolwork or other tasks.
“At the other end of the scale, overprotection is just as detrimental to children as neglect. A child cannot live a normal life and develop positive life skills if they are overprotected. There needs to be a balance in protecting children, as both ends of the spectrum amount to child abuse,” Allers said.
Signs of emotional abuse
He said signs of emotional abuse and neglect in children included anxiety and depression symptoms, isolating themselves, disruptive behaviour, mood changes including aggression and agitation, depression, sleep problems, school refusal or lower academic performance, and developmental and language delays.
There is also a heightened risk of self-harm and suicidal behaviour.
Allers emphasised that medical professionals and social workers are bound by law to report any form of child abuse, including emotional abuse.
“Where emotional abuse or neglect is suspected, children should be referred for psychological interventions that can help them cope and rebuild their self-esteem, and abusers must be dealt with by the legal system, he said.