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Sticks and stones

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I'm Ray Sass with HHS HealthBeat.

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me." That's the conventional wisdom for kids � but it's now being challenged when those names come from parents.

A study says verbally abused children are twice as likely to develop mood or anxiety disorders. They also showed 60 percent more symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Natalie Sachs-Ericsson of Florida State University:

"People who were verbally abused were more self-critical, and the self-criticism predicted the depression. It was because people were being self-critical that there was a relationship." (10 seconds)

She says parents should avoid calling their children names like "bad" or "stupid." Instead, focus on certain behavior as bad. Praise and encouragement are also important when the child shows good behavior.

HHS' National Institutes of Health funded the study in the Journal of Affective Disorders.

Learn more at www.hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I'm Ray Sass.

Last revised: July 25, 2006

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