Toxic parenting and nursing roles: A multidisciplinary perspective

Toxic parenting, characterized by emotionally harmful behaviors such as excessive control, emotional neglect, and psychological abuse, poses serious risks to a child’s emotional and developmental health. In the Indian context, such behaviors are often normalized or obscured by socio-cultural expectations around discipline, obedience, and academic performance. Nurses, as frontline healthcare providers, are in a unique position to identify early signs of emotional maltreatment, provide supportive intervention, and advocate for child protection. This paper examines the cultural underpinnings and psychological consequences of toxic parenting in India and outlines the critical roles nurses play in screening, education, and coordinated care to mitigate long-term harm.