Drive Planned Against Child Emotion Abuse

About 80,000 cases of serious emotional abuse of children were reported in 1986, although most Americans recognize that repeated yelling and cursing at a child lead to long-term emotional problems, a child welfare group reported Tuesday.

Even so, the figure represents only a fraction of the number of children who suffer verbal and psychological mistreatment, said Ann Cohn, executive director of the group, the National Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse.

“Emotional abuse is probably the most insidious, most damaging form of child abuse,” Cohn said at a news conference. In response, the committee is starting a national campaign to make parents more careful about protecting the emotional health of their children.

Cohn said emotional abuse includes rejection, intimidation or humiliation of the child, lack of affection or acceptance, and “verbal assaults”--constant criticism or insults that can undermine a child’s self-esteem.

‘Millions of Children’

“If we just looked at children across the country who are experiencing verbal abuse by their parents, we’re talking about millions of children,” Cohn said. “Does this mean all those millions of cases should be reported to authorities? No. But those parents should stop doing what they’re doing to their kids.”

A Louis Harris poll conducted last December showed that 73% of the public believe emotional abuse can cause long-term problems for a child. In contrast, 41% of the 1,250 people surveyed think physical punishment is harmful to a child.

“I really think this poll (shows) that this is an issue that touches people the way no other child abuse does,” Cohn said. “It’s at the soul of people in a way that other forms of abuse are not.”

Recurring Problems

Bob Keeshan, a board member of the child abuse committee but better known as “Captain Kangaroo” on the children’s morning television program, said emotional child abuse leaves scars that are not as obvious as physical abuse but that can cause recurring problems.

“Words can be tremendously hurtful. The effects are long-term and devastating, with children often turning their pain inward, resulting in such problems as alcohol abuse, drug abuse and even suicide attempts,” Keeshan said.