Childhood Emotional Neglect and Its Adult Consequences: A Systematic Review of Young Adults’ Mental Health and Relationships

Childhood emotional neglect represents a significant yet often overlooked form of maltreatment. Unlike physical abuse or explicit emotional abuse, emotional neglect occurs when caregivers consistently fail to meet a child's emotional needs. This can include ignoring a child's feelings, withholding affection, or failing to provide emotional support and validation. Emotional neglect in childhood represents a pervasive yet frequently overlooked form of maltreatment with profound consequences for young adults' psychological well-being and relational capacities. This systematic review examines the long-term effects of familial emotional neglect on individuals aged 18-35, employing rigorous methodology to synthesize current evidence. The study protocol followed PRISMA guidelines, with comprehensive searches conducted across PsycINFO, PubMed, and Scopus databases. Inclusion criteria encompassed peer-reviewed English-language studies (2000-2023) employing validated measures of childhood emotional neglect (e.g., Childhood Trauma Questionnaire) and assessing outcomes in young adulthood. 35 studies are included in this research after the quality check.

The analysis revealed three key domains of impact: psychological functioning, attachment patterns, and social competence. Quantitatively, neglected individuals demonstrated significantly higher rates of depression (OR = 2.3, 95% CI [1.8, 2.9]) and anxiety disorders (OR = 1.9, 95% CI [1.5, 2.4]) compared to non-neglected peers. Qualitatively, thematic analysis identified recurring narratives of emotional dysregulation and negative self-schemas. Attachment studies showed a 3.1-fold increase in insecure attachment styles, particularly fearful-avoidant patterns (κ = 0.72). Social consequences included impaired trust formation (d = 0.81) and romantic relationship dysfunction, with 68% of samples reporting intimacy avoidance. Notable moderators emerged across studies: (1) Gender differences revealed women exhibited greater internalizing symptoms (β = 0.34, p < .001) , while men showed more externalizing behaviors; (2) Collectivist cultures demonstrated protective familial factors but heightened stigma regarding help-seeking; and (3) Parental mental health status mediated 42% of neglect severity effects. Methodological limitations included cross-sectional designs (73% of studies) and Western sample overrepresentation (81%).

These findings carry crucial implications for clinical practice and research. The robust association between emotional neglect and adult psychopathology underscores the need for routine screening in mental health settings, particularly through developmentally sensitive measures. The attachment findings suggest trauma-informed approaches should prioritize emotional regulation training prior to relationship-focused interventions. Culturally adapted models are urgently needed, given the demonstrated variability in neglect manifestations and coping mechanisms across ethnic groups. Future research directions should prioritize longitudinal designs to establish causal pathways and investigate protective resilience factors. This review ultimately advocates for a paradigm shift in child welfare policies to recognize emotional neglect as a distinct public health concern requiring targeted prevention strategies.

Keywords: emotional neglect, childhood maltreatment, family dynamics, young adults