The Consequences of Childhood Emotional Abuse: A Systematic Review and Content Analysis

Abstract

Emotional abuse is a prevalent type of child maltreatment and is associated with various adverse outcomes. Although it rarely occurs in isolation, emotional abuse has been linked to unique outcomes that differ from physical and sexual abuse. This study aimed to explore unique outcomes of emotional abuse and to determine which outcomes are the most prevalent. A systematic review and content analysis of peer-reviewed articles were conducted. Results indicated that emotional abuse is positively associated with mental health, behavioral health, and all health problems. These findings suggest that psychopathology is the most prevalent outcome of child emotional abuse. Implications of this work highlight the importance of prevention for at risk caregivers and the need for legal interventions in severe cases.