The purpose of this study was to investigate the psychological consequences of emotional abuse in a group of children. 50 emotionally abused institutionalized children (aged 9.6-15.6 yrs old) were compared with 50 non-abused non-institutionalized children (aged 9-15 yrs). All children were interviewed and assessed using 3 scales: the Arabic versions of the Child Depression Inventory (CDI), Spielberger State and Trait Anxiety Scale for Children, and the Self-concept Scale (SCS). The SCS assesses 8 dimensions: social values, self-confidence, sociability, intelligence, physical well being, emotional stability, vigor, and aggression. A comparison of the 2 groups using t-test shows that the abused children scored significantly lower in the social values, self-confidence, sociability, intelligence, and emotional stability dimensions on the SCS. They scored significantly higher on the anxiety scale and the CDI. The results of this study seem to confirm the hypothesis that abused institutionalized children suffer more from psychological disorders than do non-abused non-institutionalized children and that they are therefore in greater need of psychological care and support.