Overview

• The Liverpool John Moores University–led BMJ Open study of 20,687 adults in England and Wales found childhood verbal abuse linked to a 64% higher chance of low adult mental wellbeing, compared with a 52% increase for physical abuse.
• Participants who experienced both verbal and physical abuse faced a 115% increased risk of poor mental health in adulthood.
• Birth cohort analysis shows that physical abuse prevalence halved to 10% among those born in 2000 or later, while verbal abuse rose to about 20% in the same group.
• Advocacy group Words Matter is pressing the UK government for targeted prevention policies and support programs to tackle childhood verbal abuse, though official reforms remain pending.
• Researchers note that as an observational, self-reported study, it cannot establish causality but underscores links consistent with toxic stress effects on neurodevelopment.