Verbally abused children more likely to have poor mental health as adults, study finds
Parents who ridicule, threaten or humiliate their children risk leaving them with a 64% higher chance of having poor mental health as an adult, a study has found,The research also found physical abuse experienced among the research participants reduced over time, while verbal abuse increased,Published in BMJ Open, the study gathered data of 20,687 adults from seven studies published between 2012 and 2024,The studies used all involved questions on childhood physical and verbal abuse using the validated Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) tool and the Warwick-Edinburgh mental wellbeing scale to measure individual and combined components of adult mental wellbeing,Participants were asked over a two-week period about their mental wellbeing, with responses given a score to determine whether the participant had a low or high sense of mental wellbeing.
While physical abuse was associated with a 52% increase in the likelihood of a person experiencing low mental wellbeing as an adult, verbal abuse was linked to a slightly higher likelihood at 64%, according to analysis of the results.The analysis also found that, even when physical abuse was part of a person’s childhood experiences, participants who also experienced verbal abuse faced additional risks.The prevalence of low mental wellbeing for those who had experienced no abuse stood at 16%, rising to 22.5% for physical abuse, 24% for verbal abuse, and 29% for both physical and verbal abuse.Furthermore, the prevalence of physical abuse halved from about 20% among those born between 1950 and 1979 to 10% among participants born in or after 2000.
However, for verbal abuse, the prevalence increased from 12% among those born before 1950 to about 20% among those born in 2000 or later.These findings add to previous research that found experiencing childhood verbal abuse was linked to a higher risk of self-harm, drug use, and ending up in jail.“Our study reveals that degrading, humiliating and abusive language directed at children can have long-term mental health impacts at least as severe as those associated with physical abuse,” said Prof Mark Bellis of Liverpool John Moores University, the study’s lead author.“Equally concerning is the trend observed over the study period where physical abuse declined but verbal abuse increased … potentially offsetting the mental health gains we might expect from reduced exposure to physical harm.”The authors of the study acknowledged its limitations, namely that they were unable to measure the severity of either type of abuse, or the reasons for these trends in changing prevalence for physical and verbal abuse.
“Although this study does not examine the reasons for these trends, it is vital that we do not simply replace one form of childhood trauma with another,” Bellis added.“That’s why we must go beyond telling parents what not to do, and instead offer clear, practical support and guidance that allows them to raise their children through healthy, nurturing relationships.”The analysis also found that participants born in 2000 or later had a higher likelihood of overall low mental wellbeing, while men were more likely to report never or rarely feeling optimistic, useful, or close to people, while women were more likely to report never or rarely feeling relaxed.Jessica Bondy, founder of Words Matter, a charity with the aim of ending childhood verbal abuse, said the study confirmed that “words can wound deeply and have a lasting impact on a child’s mental health and development”.She added: “Any gains made in reducing physical abuse risk being undone by rising rates of verbal abuse.
We must act now to confront the lasting harm caused by cruel, critical or controlling language.We need to build children up – not knock them down.The mental health of the next generation and our shared future depend on it.”
Donald Trump’s war on statistics is an authoritarian attack on democracy and countries like Australia should call it out | Greg Jericho
Whether it be the judicial system, universities, or health organisations, Donald Trump cannot abide by anything that does not confirm his world view. So it was not a shock when late last week he came for statistics – or, more pointedly, the person in charge of the economic statistics.On Friday, the US’s Bureau of Labor Studies released the July US employment figures. They were not good. Just 73,000 non-farm jobs were added and annual employment growth was the worst it has been since the GFC years (excluding the pandemic):If the graph does not display click hereIn response, Trump did what any autocrat would do when told bad news: he shot the messenger – at least only figuratively
Qantas has devalued its frequent flyer points. What should you do now?
Qantas was back in the spotlight this week with news that affected members of its frequent flyer program.The airline has made significant changes to its loyalty program, effectively devaluing its frequent flyer points.While we don’t know the full extent or the specifics of the changes, airline loyalty program experts estimate a 20% average increase in the number of points needed to redeem a seat.Qantas has given us a few examples, including that a Classic Rewards economy seat on a Sydney-Melbourne flight has risen to 9,200 points plus $55 in fees, from 8,000 points plus $55 in fees.So, will the Qantas promise of more rewards seats available to flyers make the additional expense worth it? Or are people better off spending their points on shopping instead of flights?Sign up: AU Breaking News emailFlagging the changes in January, the chief executive officer of the frequent flyer program, Andrew Glance, said: “A lot has changed in the last six years
Claire’s files for US bankruptcy for second time in seven years
The tween jewellery and ear-piercing retailer Claire’s has declared bankruptcy in the US for the second time in seven years amid a slowdown in consumer spending and the switch to online shopping.The US accessories retailer, which has more than 2,700 stores in 17 countries including the UK and France, said in papers filed with a court in Delaware that it had debts of between $1bn and $10bn.Uncertainty about Donald Trump’s tariff policy has raised questions about Claire’s ability to deal with a loan of nearly $500m (£375m), which is due for repayment in December 2026.Chris Cramer, the chief executive of Claire’s, said: “This decision is difficult, but a necessary one. Increased competition, consumer spending trends and the ongoing shift away from brick-and-mortar retail, in combination with our current debt obligations and macroeconomic factors, necessitate this course of action for Claire’s and its stakeholders
China’s Leninist industrial policy is creating instability at home and abroad | George Magnus
China’s astounding technological success in mass-producing quality electric vehicles (EVs) sits alongside a serious flaw in its industrial model: overcapacity.It has the capacity to produce about three times as many units as it can sell at home. The consequences so far have included widespread price cutting, large losses, misallocation of capital, and surging low-cost EV exports leading to trade conflict.The bigger problem, though, is that EVs are just a part of a broader overcapacity problem involving a myriad of sectors and products.At home, Chinese overcapacity lies at the heart of the destruction of profits, debt management problems, and persistent deflation
UK construction activity in July falls at steepest rate since Covid
Activity in the UK construction sector fell last month at the sharpest rate since the height of the Covid pandemic amid a collapse in housebuilding, underscoring the challenge facing the government to meet its 1.5m new homes target.The figures from S&P Global Market Intelligence showed activity fell in July at the steepest pace since May 2020, during the first UK coronavirus lockdown.The data provider said a sharp drop in residential building pulled down its monthly purchasing managers index (PMI) for the UK construction sector as a whole, alongside a plunge in civil engineering and a softer downturn in commercial property.Compiled from a survey of about 150 construction companies, the survey is closely monitored by the Treasury and the Bank of England for early warning signs from the economy
Honda’s quarterly profits are halved as Trump’s tariffs bite
The Japanese carmaker Honda has reported a 50% drop in quarterly profits as it counted the cost of Donald Trump’s tariffs and electric vehicle policies, even as it said the full impact would be less than its worst expectations.The manufacturer’s operating profits fell by half to 244bn yen (£1.2bn) in the three months to June, according to financial results published on Wednesday. That was mainly because of a 124bn yen hit from tariffs, as well as 113bn yen in losses on electric car sales in the US.The car industry has been among the worst hit by the US tariff chaos, as the US president has specifically targeted it in the hope of reviving American car manufacturing
Thomasina Miers’ recipes for lamb koftas with buttery tomato sauce and cacik
Frying solo? 20 pantry, fridge and freezer essentials for single households
Rukmini Iyer’s quick and easy recipe for baked feta tacos with pink onion and pineapple salsa | Quick and easy
How to make perfect fresh tomato pasta – recipe | Felicity Cloake's How to make the perfect …
The Greyhound, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire: ‘An oligarch’s saloon bar teetering on the edge of chintz’ – restaurant review | Grace Dent on restaurants
What? They’re doing raves in the morning now? With coffee? At a cafe?