Parents who experience emotional neglect as children are more likely to 'pass it on' to their own children. 

New research from Queen's University Belfast shows childhood emotional neglect can lead to more hostile and controlling parenting in the future. 

Tayler Truhan from the School of Psychology at Queens said they spoke anonymously to over 600 people, about the parenting styles and experience of parenting in their homes.

“One of the things that we found in our research is that in terms of childhood adversity is there are really a number of different experiences,” she said. 

“So, you can experience things like neglect as well as abuse or household dysfunction. 

“Particularly experiencing things like emotional neglect can lead to a more hostile and rejecting style of parenting with your own children in the future.” 

Ms Truhan said the survey spoke to both children and parents for the study. 

“Both reported on their experiences of parenting behaviour at home, as well as the parent reported on their past experiences of childhood adversity,” she said. 

“Then we also looked at a number of other things like personality, narcissism, as well as the home environment. 

An Garda Síochána have a dedicated phone line where cases of child abuse, both modern and historic, can be reported. 

They can be reached on 1800 555 222 or you can make a report at your local Garda station.

Main image: Old broken shoes of a little boy. Picture by: Ralf Geithe / Alamy Stock Photo