We want what’s best for our kids. It’s why so many parents struggle with parenting choices. And we’re only human, after all.
It’s normal to get frustrated with your children, especially if they are misbehaving.
But the way you express this frustration and deal with the situation can have major implications on their personality development and their long-term health.
In fact, harsh parental disciplining measures, like yelling, can have an even bigger impact on kids than previously believed.
Read on to learn what studies have found about the long-term effects that yelling can have on kids.
1. Yelling makes their behavior problems get worse
You might think that yelling at your kids can solve a problem in the moment or can prevent them from behaving badly in the future. But research shows that it could actually be creating more issues in the long run. Yelling can actually makes your child’s behavior even worse. Which means you have to yell more to try to correct it. And the cycle continues.
2. Yelling changes the way their brain develops
Yelling and other harsh parenting techniques can quite literally change the way your child’s brain develops. That’s because humans process negative information and events more quickly and thoroughly than good ones.
3. Yelling can lead to depression
In addition to children feeling hurt, scared, or sad when their parents yell at them, verbal abuse has the ability to cause deeper psychological issues that carry into adulthood. These kinds of symptoms can lead to worsening behavior and can even develop into self-destructive actions, like drug use or an increase in risky sexual activity.
4. Yelling has effects on physical health
The experiences we have growing up shape us in many ways, some of which we may not even realize. Stress in childhood from a verbally abusive parent can increase a child’s risk for certain health problems as an adult. Research tells us that experiencing stress as a child can have long-term impacts on physical health.
5. Yelling can cause chronic pain
A recent study found a link between negative childhood experiences, including verbal and other kinds of abuse, and the later development of painful chronic conditions. The conditions included arthritis, bad headaches, back and neck problems, and other chronic pain.
It’s never too late to make a change in your parenting behavior or learn some new techniques. If you notice yourself yelling a lot or losing your temper, ask for help.
