What term refers to a lack of emotional support and failure to provide supervision for a child, leading to impairment?

The term that refers to a lack of emotional support and a failure to provide supervision for a child, resulting in impairment, is emotional neglect. Emotional neglect occurs when a caregiver fails to meet a child's emotional needs, which can include affection, attention, and nurturing. This type of neglect can significantly impact a child's psychological development and overall well-being, as children require a stable emotional environment to thrive. The absence of emotional support can lead to feelings of worthlessness or rejection, severely affecting a child's mental health and social development.

In contrast, verbal abuse pertains to using harmful language that can damage a child's self-esteem and emotional state but does not specifically refer to emotional support or supervision. Physical abuse involves the use of physical force that injures or threatens a child's safety, while institutional abuse usually refers to maltreatment that occurs within organizations caring for children, such as schools or foster homes. Each of these alternatives addresses different aspects of child maltreatment but does not encompass the direct implications of a lack of emotional support and supervision that define emotional neglect.