Purpose <p>Given the limitations of the cumulative risk perspective, recent theories and studies have differentiated them into subtypes, such as abuse and neglect, or physical and emotional maltreatment, considering their different psychological harms. The present study aimed to compare the psychological harms of physical and emotional abuse and neglect, especially abuse versus neglect and physical versus emotional maltreatment, within the Chinese context, when considering the sex and age differences.</p> Methods <p>A total of 9,923 adolescents, 10,590 emerging adults, and 7,641 middle-aged people provided valid self-reported data and were included in the analysis. We examined the relationship between physical and emotional abuse and neglect and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and complex posttraumatic stress disorder across different sexes for each age group. Then we compared these relationships (abuse versus neglect and physical versus emotional maltreatment in a sex group) and sex differences among all age groups.</p> Results <p>Emotional abuse was more strongly associated with psychological harms in all comparisons. The other comparisons between the two types of physical maltreatment/neglect, and their sex differences, were different among all age groups. Emerging adulthood might represent a transitional generation regarding the relative psychological harms of physical and emotional abuse and neglect.</p> Conclusions <p>Categorizing physical and emotional abuse and neglect as abuse/neglect or physical/emotional maltreatment was inadequate. Emotional abuse posed the most psychological harm in the Chinese context. Cultural characteristics, sex differences, and temporal development factors (age differences) should be considered when assessing the psychological harms of physical and emotional abuse and neglect.</p>