Childhood verbal abuse by adults costs society an estimated $300 billion (£239 billion) a year globally, according to recent findings presented at the first international conference on childhood verbal abuse, hosted by UCL, Words Matter and the World Health Organization (WHO).
The Words Matter: Impact and Prevention of Childhood Verbal Abuse conference marks the first time that experts from around the world have come together to focus attention on the lifetime damage of childhood verbal abuse.Childhood verbal abuse can have a negative impact on a child’s well-being, including behaviors like belittling, shouting, and threatening language. A recent study, conducted by Professor Xiangming Fang from China Agricultural University and Georgia State University, used data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Violence Against Children Surveys in four countries: Cambodia (1212 participants), Kenya (1099 participants), Colombia (1415 participants), and Moldova (906 participants) to examine the effects of childhood verbal abuse on various health outcomes.mental distress, self-harm, drug use, and problem drinking are some of the health outcomes attributed to childhood verbal abuse. The study calculated the Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALY) lost, which represents the total healthy life years lost due to premature death or disability caused by a common disease or health problem. This was used to estimate the economic burden of childhood verbal abuse. The DALY losses were then translated into monetary value, assuming that one DALY was equal to the country’s per-capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The average economic burden of childhood verbal abuse across the four countries was then determined.The estimated cost of childhood verbal abuse was found to be 0.34% of GDP, which translates to around $300 billion annually when applied to the global GDP. In the four countries studied, the Disability-Adjusted Life Years lost to outcomes of childhood verbal abuse were significantly higher than those for breast cancer and liver cancer, and on par with those lost to hypertensive heart disease. Professor Peter Fonagy, the Conference Chair from UCL Psychology & Language Sciences, emphasized the common occurrence of verbal abuse towards children by adults and its status as one of the most impactful factors that can be modified to improve lives.
It is a long-term mental health disorder.
“Addressing this issue gives us a strong tool to prevent mental health disorders and their huge impact on both the UK and global economy.
“I am pleased that we now have an organization, Words Matter charity, that is finally addressing this issue. Bringing more attention to childhood verbal abuse has the potential to greatly reduce the economic and psychological impact of psychiatric disorders.”
Prior research by experts at UCL and Wingate University* discovered that childhood verbal abuse can be just as damaging as other forms of abuse and can have significant negative effects on children’s mental health.
Childhood verbal abuse can have detrimental effects on mental and physical health, leading to issues such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, self-harm, substance abuse, and even suicide.
According to Professor Xiangming Fang, the economic burden of childhood verbal abuse by adults is significant and has been clearly quantified. This highlights the hidden cost of the damage it causes to children throughout their lifetime. It is important to note that the quantified economic burden is likely an underestimate, as it does not account for the impact of childhood verbal abuse on healthcare utilization costs and legal system expenses, which were not included in the analysis due to data unavailability.
Ending childhood verbal abuse presents a significant opportunity for economic growth. By highlighting these statistics, we aim to bring attention to this form of childhood maltreatment. It is crucial to conduct more research and allocate resources to prevention in order to reduce the cost to society.
According to Jessica Bondy, Founder of Words Matter, childhood verbal abuse by adults has been overlooked for too long, despite being prevalent. This conference is intended to raise awareness and inspire action. It is feasible to eliminate childhood verbal abuse with collective effort.
eater awareness, understanding and collaboration across the globe is needed to develop solutions. It is crucial to take action now, as the impact on children’s mental and physical health is long-lasting and has a significant cost to society. Instead of tearing children down, we should support and uplift them to create a better future for children.”
Tim Loughton MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Children and former Children’s Minister, stated: “The work of Words Matter and its expert advisers is addressing the gap in understanding the harms that can be caused to children from the way adults communicate with them, and how to prevent them.”
This is a quote in the article: “By convening this conference, the work of Words Matter and its expert advisers is filling a gap in understanding the harms that can be inflicted on children from the way adults communicate with them and the routes for preveThe article discusses the impact of verbal abuse on children, emphasizing that while physical violence is widely recognized as harmful, verbal abuse is often overlooked despite its pervasive and harmful effects, particularly during the Covid pandemic. The article also stresses the importance of using respectful language when interacting with children, as the words we use can have lasting implications for both the children and the economy. The article also mentions former Health Minister and Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation, Lord Philip Hunt of K, who is currently serving as the Opposition Whip.ings Heath stated that it is essential for all children to have a happy and healthy upbringing. However, there are millions of children who are experiencing verbal abuse from adults, and this issue has been kept hidden for too long. The work of Words Matter has brought attention to the fact that this verbal abuse not only affects the mental health and development of children, but also has a significant impact on society as a whole. It is crucial for children to grow up with the confidence and skills needed for a successful adult life, and the words they hear from adults play a crucial role in building their self-esteem and confidence. By shedding light on this issue, lives can and will be positively impacted.
Although it is estimated that childhood verbal abuse has led to healthcare utilization costs and legal system expenses, the $300 billion cost is likely an underestimate. This estimate does not include the impact on chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, as well as other outcomes that were not included due to data unavailability. It is important to note that attributing a disease to multiple risk factors is capped at 100%, but when these risk factors overlap, the maximum attribution can be exceeded.
The sum of DALY estimates for all risk factors could potentially exceed 100% if inter-correlations are not fully accounted for, leading to a potential overestimation of the figures.
There is a lack of reliable longitudinal data in the field to assess the long-term repercussions of childhood verbal abuse.
The absence of high-quality cohort studies that take a lifetime perspective in economic data estimation may result in a significant underestimation of the economic impact of childhood verbal abuse.
Prioritizing the collection of longitudinal data on the consequences of childhood verbal abuse should be a primary focus of future efforts.