Believe verbal abuse is even worse than physical abuse. A child eventually forgets most spankings. A child is likely to remember physical abuse. But believe a child always remembers the verbal abuse, every last bit. You have the child's authority figure/role model calling them abusive names, telling them they are no good, they'll never find anyone to marry, etc. The child will tend to take that seriously. It takes a tough, strong kid to be able to compartment the abuse and rise above it. Many do not. They live down to the abuse. When they are 30 and still living in the basement, should the parents complain, the child can always say, "You told me I would never amount to anything, so here I am." Or when reaching the age of majority, the child simply departs, never to be heard from again. From time to time, the child exacts payback when they laugh at/ignore an aged parent's request for help. Or the child doesn't bother attending the parent's funeral, or if they do show the child makes it plain they don't give a fuck.
Verbal abuse can plant very poisonous seeds in a child. As a parent themselves, unless the child works hard to break the cycle they are likely to verbally abuse their children.
