Cracked mask symbolizing emotional distress from verbal abuse.

Unmasking Verbal Abuse: How Words Wound and What You Can Do

Lena Voss in Mind & Education August 2025 • 4 min read.

"A Korean study reveals the lasting impact of verbal abuse on mental health, highlighting the need for greater awareness and support."

Words can build or break, and while physical violence often takes center stage, verbal aggression lurks in the shadows, leaving deep scars. Defined as a common form of emotional abuse, it involves the use of language to demean, control, or harm another person. A recent study focusing on Korean university students sheds light on the prevalence and impact of verbal abuse, underscoring the importance of recognizing and addressing this often-overlooked form of mistreatment.

The Korean study, published in Psychiatry Investigation, delved into the psychometric properties of the Korean Verbal Abuse Questionnaire (K-VAQ), a tool designed to assess lifetime exposure to verbal aggression. Researchers sought to understand how verbal abuse affects mental health, exploring its links to anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Understanding verbal abuse is the first step toward healing. Whether you're a survivor, a concerned friend, or simply seeking knowledge, this guide offers insights into the nature of verbal abuse, its impact, and the steps you can take to break free from its insidious grip.

The Silent Epidemic: Understanding the Scope of Verbal Abuse

Cracked mask symbolizing emotional distress from verbal abuse.

Verbal abuse is more widespread than many realize. Studies reveal alarming rates of verbal aggression across different populations. For instance, the Korean study highlighted that a significant percentage of women reported experiencing parental verbal violence. In the United States, data suggests that emotional abuse during childhood affects a notable proportion of adults, both men and women.

Unlike physical abuse, which leaves visible marks, verbal abuse often hides in plain sight, disguised as nagging, criticism, or even 'teasing.' This makes it difficult to recognize and address, allowing it to persist and inflict long-term damage.

Scolding and Yelling: Constant berating and shouting can create a climate of fear and anxiety.
Swearing and Insults: Using offensive language to demean and belittle someone.
Blaming and Accusations: Making someone feel responsible for everything that goes wrong, even things beyond their control.
Threats: Intimidation through words, suggesting harm or negative consequences.
Demeaning and Ridiculing: Mocking someone's intelligence, appearance, or abilities.
Criticizing: Constant nitpicking and fault-finding, often without constructive intent.

The insidious nature of verbal abuse lies in its ability to erode self-worth and create lasting emotional wounds. Victims may internalize the abuse, leading to feelings of shame, guilt, and inadequacy. Over time, this can manifest in various mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and even PTSD.

Breaking the Cycle: Healing and Seeking Support

Recognizing verbal abuse is the first step toward healing. If you or someone you know is experiencing verbal abuse, remember that you are not alone. Seeking professional help from a therapist or counselor can provide valuable support and guidance in processing the trauma and developing healthy coping mechanisms. Building a strong support system of friends, family, or support groups can also offer a sense of community and validation.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.4306/pi.2015.12.2.190, Alternate LINK

Title: The Psychometric Properties Of The Korean Version Of The Verbal Abuse Questionnaire In University Students

Subject: Biological Psychiatry

Journal: Psychiatry Investigation

Publisher: Korean Neuropsychiatric Association

Authors: Bumseok Jeong, Sang Won Lee, Jong-Sun Lee, Jae Hyun Yoo, Ko Woon Kim, Sooyun Cho, Jee-Young Ahn, Jeewook Choi

Published: 2015-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

What are the potential mental health consequences of experiencing verbal abuse, and how does it erode self-worth?

Verbal abuse, characterized by scolding, yelling, swearing, insults, blaming, accusations, threats, demeaning remarks, ridiculing behavior and constant criticism, can lead to a climate of fear and anxiety. Victims often internalize these aggressions, developing feelings of shame, guilt and inadequacy. This internalization can further manifest into serious mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and even post-traumatic stress disorder. It's crucial to recognize these signs and seek support to prevent long-term psychological harm.

What is the Korean Verbal Abuse Questionnaire (K-VAQ), and what role did it play in the Korean study mentioned?

The Korean Verbal Abuse Questionnaire (K-VAQ) is a tool designed to assess an individual's lifetime exposure to verbal aggression. The study published in Psychiatry Investigation utilized the K-VAQ to understand the correlation between verbal abuse and mental health issues like anxiety, depression and PTSD in Korean university students. While the K-VAQ is specific to the Korean context, similar tools and methodologies can be applied in different cultural settings to understand the prevalence and impact of verbal abuse worldwide.

How does verbal abuse differ from physical abuse in terms of recognition and long-term impact?

Verbal abuse differs significantly from physical abuse in its presentation and detection. While physical abuse leaves visible marks, verbal abuse is often disguised as nagging, criticism, or even 'teasing', making it difficult to recognize and address. The absence of physical evidence can lead to the minimization or dismissal of verbal abuse, allowing it to persist and inflict long-term emotional and psychological damage. Understanding the subtle yet harmful nature of verbal abuse is crucial for early identification and intervention.

What are the key steps involved in breaking the cycle of verbal abuse and beginning the healing process?

Breaking the cycle of verbal abuse involves recognizing the signs, seeking professional help, and building a strong support system. Therapy or counseling can provide valuable support and guidance in processing the trauma and developing healthy coping mechanisms. Support groups, friends and family can offer a sense of community and validation, reinforcing the understanding that one is not alone in their experience. It's essential to remember that healing is possible with the right support and resources.

How widespread is verbal abuse according to studies, and what do these findings imply about its impact on different populations?

The study focusing on Korean university students revealed that a significant percentage of women reported experiencing parental verbal violence. Data from the United States indicates that a notable proportion of adults, both men and women, have experienced emotional abuse during childhood. These findings underscore that verbal and emotional abuse are widespread issues affecting diverse populations. More research is needed to fully understand the scope of verbal abuse, identify vulnerable groups and develop effective prevention and intervention strategies.