Neglect is when a parent or guardian does not meet a child’s basic needs.
Neglect is the most frequent form of child maltreatment noted by child protection agencies.
About 18% of the adult population report experiencing emotional neglect as children.
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This number is likely an underrepresentation because emotional neglect is understudied in scientific research.
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What Qualifies as Childhood Emotional Neglect?
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.
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.
Ongoing childhood emotional neglect can result incomplex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD).
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.
Generational patterns of emotional neglectcan be broken.
Delays inlanguage developmentcan lead to behavioral difficulties.
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.
Starting these treatments as early as possible can help minimize short- and long-term effects.
This was true of both children who had and had not experienced emotional neglect.
Emotional neglect can involve actively invalidating a child’s emotions/emotional needs or ignoring/not acknowledging them.
With help, people who experienced childhood emotional neglect canheal and thrive.
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 Questions
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.
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