WRIT-102 part 2

When Parenting Crosses the Line: The Real Damage of Parental Bullying

Home is supposed to be the one place kids can actually breathe. But for some, it's just another battleground—one filled with criticism, humiliation, and emotional beatdowns. And a lot of the time, it’s coming from the people who are supposed to love them most. Parents might think they’re just being “strict,” but there’s a massive difference between setting boundaries and straight-up bullying your own kid.

Parental bullying isn’t about enforcing rules; it’s emotional abuse dressed up as discipline. It can be subtle, normalized, and easy to miss from the outside. But the damage runs deep. A 2020 study by Jeong et al. in BMC Psychiatry found that negative parenting—like constant verbal attacks and rejection—is heavily linked to higher rates of depression and anxiety in teens. Turns out, years of being torn down by the people who are supposed to have your back doesn’t exactly set you up for a happy life.

You won’t see bruises, but the trauma is real. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, emotionally abusive parenting (stuff like shaming, yelling, or public humiliation) actually messes with brain development and the body’s ability to handle stress. So while it might look like just another strict household from the outside, inside it can feel like emotional quicksand.

Here’s the thing: being strict isn’t the problem. It’s how it's done. Good, firm parenting still leaves room for trust, empathy, and actual communication. Diana Baumrind nailed it back in 1966 when she described authoritative parenting—where rules come with a side of warmth and respect. That kind of structure helps kids grow strong instead of shrinking under pressure.

When discipline turns into domination, though, it’s no longer parenting—it’s bullying. And kids who grow up like this don’t just "get over it." As studies from Jeong et al. and the AAP point out, they often carry scars into adulthood—low self-esteem, anxiety, broken relationships. Recognizing the difference between guidance and control isn’t just important; it can literally change a kid’s life.