Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Qualifies as Childhood Emotional Neglect?Other Types of NeglectSigns in ChildrenHarm From Neglect Into AdulthoodHealingHow to Support Someone ElseFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Qualifies as Childhood Emotional Neglect?
Other Types of Neglect
Signs in Children
Harm From Neglect Into Adulthood
Healing
How to Support Someone Else
Frequently Asked Questions
Neglect is when a parent or guardian does not meet a child’s basic needs. If serious enough, one instance can be defined as neglect, but it is usually an ongoing pattern rather than one incident.
There are several types of neglect, including emotional neglect, which often overlap with each other and/or other forms ofchild abuse.
Read on to learn how to identify emotional neglect in childhood and how its effects can be managed in adulthood.
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Emotional abuse and emotional neglect both fall under the umbrella ofchildhood maltreatment and early life stress (ELS). They can occur together and are often grouped together, but they aren’t the same thing.
Emotional abuse refers to actions that involve a child’s continual emotional mistreatment, such as when a parent humiliates, demeans, or threatens them.
Emotional neglect is not taking the necessary actions or providing the environment necessary to meet a child’s emotional needs. Emotional neglect may not involve humiliation or other direct acts against the child so much as a failure to provide affection, structure, comfort, encouragement, and other support necessary for a child to feel secure, loved, and valued.
Some parents or guardians do not respond to the emotional needs, cues, and expressions of their children, such as providing comfort when they are sad or scared. This can lead to the child shutting down their feelings and stopping reaching out. This is most impactful when it occurs during infancy.
Parents and guardians don’t necessarily do this intentionally, and may not be aware they are doing it. Thelack of emotional responseto their children can stem from factors such as mental health problems like depression, substance use issues, or relationship difficulties.
Ongoing childhood emotional neglect can result incomplex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD).
Examples
There are two ways emotional neglect can happen via emotional invalidation:
Emotional needs are not adequately met: The child does not receive enough emotional validation to meet their threshold of emotional needs. This leads to the child not feeling seen, heard, or understood.
Emotional needs are actively invalidated: The parent or guardian lacks awareness of how emotions work. They may see emotions as a choice and judge them negatively, seeing them as “bad behavior.” Emotions aren’t just ignored or failed to be validated, they are actively invalidated.
Emotional invalidation may look like:
Generational Patterns in Emotionally Unavailable Parents
Parents and guardians tend to do what they know, often parenting their children the way they were parented.
If a parent or guardian doesn’t have their own needs met in childhood, it can be difficult for them to meet the needs of their children. A history of trauma,domestic violence, child abuse or neglect, mental illness, substance use, and other factors can also contribute to a parent or guardian’s emotional neglect of their children.
Generational patterns of emotional neglectcan be broken. Resources, such as counseling and parenting classes, can help parents and guardians learn how to meet their children’s needs in ways their own needs were not met.
In addition to emotional neglect, neglect can be:
Emotional maltreatmentcan happen on its own, but it’s less common for other forms of maltreatment to occur without emotional maltreatment present as well.
Signs of emotional neglect in children can be less obvious than other forms of abuse or neglect.
Children who have experienced neglect, such as emotional neglect, may show delays in expressive, receptive, and overall language development. Delays inlanguage developmentcan lead to behavioral difficulties.
People who experience/experienced emotional neglect in childhood may:
Neglect in childhood can havelong-term effects, including an association with:
The effects of childhood emotional neglect on its own are understudied. For many studies, emotional neglect is included with other forms of child maltreatment. More studies are needed to determine the specific short- and long-term effects of emotional neglect.
Increased Risk of Mental Health Disorders
Early life stress and emotional maltreatment in childhood are associated with an increased risk of some mental health conditions, including:
If you or a loved one are having thoughts of suicide, call 911 immediately or call theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat 1-800-273-8255.
Healing After Emotional Neglect
Psychological interventions, such as therapy, are the preferred treatment for the effects of childhood neglect. Starting these treatments as early as possible can help minimize short- and long-term effects.
Social support and strong relationships with others can help offset some of the effects of child adversities, including emotional neglect at home.
Therapy Options
Therapy for people with C-PTSDfrom childhood trauma often focuses on building capacities for:
Component-based psychotherapy (CBP) is one type of therapy. CBP integrates key concepts of several evidence-based treatment models into an approach tailored to treating adult survivors of childhood emotional abuse and neglect.
In addition to working with a professional, some ways to cope with emotional neglect from your childhood include:
Raising public awareness about the signs and effects of emotional abuse and neglect, and encouraging community engagement, could improve the overall well-being of children in the community and reduce child maltreatment.
Resources that may be useful for people who experienced childhood emotional neglect and/or families who need help dealing with or preventing emotional neglect include:
Summary
Childhood emotional neglect involves not responding to a child’s emotional needs and not providing an environment that fosters their emotional health. Emotional neglect can involve actively invalidating a child’s emotions/emotional needs or ignoring/not acknowledging them.
The signs of emotional neglect can be hard to see from the outside, but the effects canlinger into adulthood. With help, people who experienced childhood emotional neglect canheal and thrive.
A Word From Verywell
If you experienced childhood neglect and are having a hard timecoping with the effects, talk to your healthcare provider or mental health professional. There are also resources available if a loved one is experiencing childhood neglect or dealing with its effects. Help is available, and healing is possible.
Frequently Asked QuestionsChildhood emotional neglect is a form of early life stress. It is acomplex traumathat can have lasting effects.Childhood emotional neglect can affectattachment with caregivers, which can affect future relationships. People who experienced childhood emotional neglect may have difficulties with interpersonal relationships as adults.Parents need to learn skills such as providing their children with the stimulus they need and engaging them with expressions such as smiling and laughing.These and other important parenting skills can be learned through programs such as:Parent-led self-help groups, such asCircle of ParentsParent education and training programsTherapy and help from professionals such as counselors
Childhood emotional neglect is a form of early life stress. It is acomplex traumathat can have lasting effects.
Childhood emotional neglect can affectattachment with caregivers, which can affect future relationships. People who experienced childhood emotional neglect may have difficulties with interpersonal relationships as adults.
Parents need to learn skills such as providing their children with the stimulus they need and engaging them with expressions such as smiling and laughing.These and other important parenting skills can be learned through programs such as:Parent-led self-help groups, such asCircle of ParentsParent education and training programsTherapy and help from professionals such as counselors
Parents need to learn skills such as providing their children with the stimulus they need and engaging them with expressions such as smiling and laughing.
These and other important parenting skills can be learned through programs such as:
17 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.Neglect.Stoltenborgh M, Bakermans-Kranenburg MJ, van IJzendoorn MH.The neglect of child neglect: a meta-analytic review of the prevalence of neglect. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2013;48(3):345-355. doi:10.1007/s00127-012-0549-yKumari V.Emotional abuse and neglect: time to focus on prevention and mental health consequences. The British Journal of Psychiatry. 2020;217(5):597-599. doi:10.1192/bjp.2020.154Taillieu TL, Brownridge DA, Sareen J, Afifi TO.Childhood emotional maltreatment and mental disorders: Results from a nationally representative adult sample from the United States. Child Abuse & Neglect. 2016;59:1-12. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2016.07.005National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.Emotional abuse.Glickman EA, Choi KW, Lussier AA, Smith BJ, Dunn EC.Childhood emotional neglect and adolescent depression: assessing the protective role of peer social support in a longitudinal birth cohort. Front Psychiatry. 2021;12:681176. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.681176Child Family Community Australia.Understanding child neglect.Michelle Halle, LCSW.Childhood emotional neglect leaves you feeling sad even when everything in your life seems right.Dr. Jonice Webb.Home.Western Youth Services.How to overcome emotional neglect in childhood.Spratt EG, Friedenberg S, LaRosa A, et al.The effects of early neglect on cognitive, language, and behavioral functioning in childhood. PSYCH. 2012;03(02):175-182. doi:10.4236/psych.2012.32026Huh HJ, Kim SY, Yu JJ, Chae JH.Childhood trauma and adult interpersonal relationship problems in patients with depression and anxiety disorders. Ann Gen Psychiatry. 2014;13(1):26. doi:10.1186/s12991-014-0026-yHanson JL, Hariri AR, Williamson DE.Blunted ventral striatum development in adolescence reflects emotional neglect and predicts depressive symptoms. Biological Psychiatry. 2015;78(9):598-605. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2015.05.010Watson S, Gallagher P, Dougall D, et al.Childhood trauma in bipolar disorder. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2014;48(6):564-570. doi:10.1177/0004867413516681Grossman, FK, Spinazzola, J, Zucker, M, Hopper, E (2017).Treating adult survivors of childhood emotional abuse and neglect: A new framework. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 87(1), 86-93. doi:10.1037/ort0000225The Lighthouse Counselling.10 strategies for coping with childhood emotional neglect.Child Welfare Information Gateway.Parenting children and youth who have experienced abuse or neglect.
17 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.Neglect.Stoltenborgh M, Bakermans-Kranenburg MJ, van IJzendoorn MH.The neglect of child neglect: a meta-analytic review of the prevalence of neglect. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2013;48(3):345-355. doi:10.1007/s00127-012-0549-yKumari V.Emotional abuse and neglect: time to focus on prevention and mental health consequences. The British Journal of Psychiatry. 2020;217(5):597-599. doi:10.1192/bjp.2020.154Taillieu TL, Brownridge DA, Sareen J, Afifi TO.Childhood emotional maltreatment and mental disorders: Results from a nationally representative adult sample from the United States. Child Abuse & Neglect. 2016;59:1-12. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2016.07.005National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.Emotional abuse.Glickman EA, Choi KW, Lussier AA, Smith BJ, Dunn EC.Childhood emotional neglect and adolescent depression: assessing the protective role of peer social support in a longitudinal birth cohort. Front Psychiatry. 2021;12:681176. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.681176Child Family Community Australia.Understanding child neglect.Michelle Halle, LCSW.Childhood emotional neglect leaves you feeling sad even when everything in your life seems right.Dr. Jonice Webb.Home.Western Youth Services.How to overcome emotional neglect in childhood.Spratt EG, Friedenberg S, LaRosa A, et al.The effects of early neglect on cognitive, language, and behavioral functioning in childhood. PSYCH. 2012;03(02):175-182. doi:10.4236/psych.2012.32026Huh HJ, Kim SY, Yu JJ, Chae JH.Childhood trauma and adult interpersonal relationship problems in patients with depression and anxiety disorders. Ann Gen Psychiatry. 2014;13(1):26. doi:10.1186/s12991-014-0026-yHanson JL, Hariri AR, Williamson DE.Blunted ventral striatum development in adolescence reflects emotional neglect and predicts depressive symptoms. Biological Psychiatry. 2015;78(9):598-605. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2015.05.010Watson S, Gallagher P, Dougall D, et al.Childhood trauma in bipolar disorder. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2014;48(6):564-570. doi:10.1177/0004867413516681Grossman, FK, Spinazzola, J, Zucker, M, Hopper, E (2017).Treating adult survivors of childhood emotional abuse and neglect: A new framework. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 87(1), 86-93. doi:10.1037/ort0000225The Lighthouse Counselling.10 strategies for coping with childhood emotional neglect.Child Welfare Information Gateway.Parenting children and youth who have experienced abuse or neglect.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.Neglect.Stoltenborgh M, Bakermans-Kranenburg MJ, van IJzendoorn MH.The neglect of child neglect: a meta-analytic review of the prevalence of neglect. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2013;48(3):345-355. doi:10.1007/s00127-012-0549-yKumari V.Emotional abuse and neglect: time to focus on prevention and mental health consequences. The British Journal of Psychiatry. 2020;217(5):597-599. doi:10.1192/bjp.2020.154Taillieu TL, Brownridge DA, Sareen J, Afifi TO.Childhood emotional maltreatment and mental disorders: Results from a nationally representative adult sample from the United States. Child Abuse & Neglect. 2016;59:1-12. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2016.07.005National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.Emotional abuse.Glickman EA, Choi KW, Lussier AA, Smith BJ, Dunn EC.Childhood emotional neglect and adolescent depression: assessing the protective role of peer social support in a longitudinal birth cohort. Front Psychiatry. 2021;12:681176. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.681176Child Family Community Australia.Understanding child neglect.Michelle Halle, LCSW.Childhood emotional neglect leaves you feeling sad even when everything in your life seems right.Dr. Jonice Webb.Home.Western Youth Services.How to overcome emotional neglect in childhood.Spratt EG, Friedenberg S, LaRosa A, et al.The effects of early neglect on cognitive, language, and behavioral functioning in childhood. PSYCH. 2012;03(02):175-182. doi:10.4236/psych.2012.32026Huh HJ, Kim SY, Yu JJ, Chae JH.Childhood trauma and adult interpersonal relationship problems in patients with depression and anxiety disorders. Ann Gen Psychiatry. 2014;13(1):26. doi:10.1186/s12991-014-0026-yHanson JL, Hariri AR, Williamson DE.Blunted ventral striatum development in adolescence reflects emotional neglect and predicts depressive symptoms. Biological Psychiatry. 2015;78(9):598-605. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2015.05.010Watson S, Gallagher P, Dougall D, et al.Childhood trauma in bipolar disorder. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2014;48(6):564-570. doi:10.1177/0004867413516681Grossman, FK, Spinazzola, J, Zucker, M, Hopper, E (2017).Treating adult survivors of childhood emotional abuse and neglect: A new framework. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 87(1), 86-93. doi:10.1037/ort0000225The Lighthouse Counselling.10 strategies for coping with childhood emotional neglect.Child Welfare Information Gateway.Parenting children and youth who have experienced abuse or neglect.
National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.Neglect.
Stoltenborgh M, Bakermans-Kranenburg MJ, van IJzendoorn MH.The neglect of child neglect: a meta-analytic review of the prevalence of neglect. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2013;48(3):345-355. doi:10.1007/s00127-012-0549-y
Kumari V.Emotional abuse and neglect: time to focus on prevention and mental health consequences. The British Journal of Psychiatry. 2020;217(5):597-599. doi:10.1192/bjp.2020.154
Taillieu TL, Brownridge DA, Sareen J, Afifi TO.Childhood emotional maltreatment and mental disorders: Results from a nationally representative adult sample from the United States. Child Abuse & Neglect. 2016;59:1-12. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2016.07.005
National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.Emotional abuse.
Glickman EA, Choi KW, Lussier AA, Smith BJ, Dunn EC.Childhood emotional neglect and adolescent depression: assessing the protective role of peer social support in a longitudinal birth cohort. Front Psychiatry. 2021;12:681176. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.681176
Child Family Community Australia.Understanding child neglect.
Michelle Halle, LCSW.Childhood emotional neglect leaves you feeling sad even when everything in your life seems right.
Dr. Jonice Webb.Home.
Western Youth Services.How to overcome emotional neglect in childhood.
Spratt EG, Friedenberg S, LaRosa A, et al.The effects of early neglect on cognitive, language, and behavioral functioning in childhood. PSYCH. 2012;03(02):175-182. doi:10.4236/psych.2012.32026
Huh HJ, Kim SY, Yu JJ, Chae JH.Childhood trauma and adult interpersonal relationship problems in patients with depression and anxiety disorders. Ann Gen Psychiatry. 2014;13(1):26. doi:10.1186/s12991-014-0026-y
Hanson JL, Hariri AR, Williamson DE.Blunted ventral striatum development in adolescence reflects emotional neglect and predicts depressive symptoms. Biological Psychiatry. 2015;78(9):598-605. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2015.05.010
Watson S, Gallagher P, Dougall D, et al.Childhood trauma in bipolar disorder. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2014;48(6):564-570. doi:10.1177/0004867413516681
Grossman, FK, Spinazzola, J, Zucker, M, Hopper, E (2017).Treating adult survivors of childhood emotional abuse and neglect: A new framework. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 87(1), 86-93. doi:10.1037/ort0000225
The Lighthouse Counselling.10 strategies for coping with childhood emotional neglect.
Child Welfare Information Gateway.Parenting children and youth who have experienced abuse or neglect.
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