Investigating Emotional Abuse: Causes and Impacts on Adolescents in Ekiti State Secondary Schools, Nigeria

Background Child abuse remains a significant social and public health concern. While physical and sexual abuse have received considerable attention, emotional abuse has often been overlooked. Emotional abuse can include behaviours like ignoring, belittling, and verbal assaults. This study aims to identify the causes and impacts of emotional abuse among adolescents in Ekiti State, Nigeria.  Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescents in senior secondary schools in Ekiti State. A multistage sampling method was used to randomly select 450 adolescents. Data collection involved a self- administered questionnaire adapted for this purpose, filled out by the students under the guidance of trained research assistants. Data entry and analysis were performed using SPSS version 25.  Results Among the respondents, 187 (41.6%) were female and 263 (58.4%) were male. The sample included 190 early adolescents (42.2%), 220 mid-adolescents (48.9%), and 40 late adolescents (8.9%). Emotional abuse from actions such as discipline for noise making affected 84% of students, with 72.1% developing fear of their teachers, 48.9% experiencing low self-esteem, and 54.7% feeling anxious about their academic performance.  Conclusion Adolescents in Ekiti secondary schools experience emotional abuse through punitive measures and academic pressures, impacting self-esteem and academic outcomes. Schools should implement periodic awareness programs for teachers on constructive discipline methods that avoid emotional abuse. Additionally, government financial support would help students better meet academic needs.