As the dialogue continues about mental health issues, researchers continue to look for new connections and causes related to mental illness. One of the causes looked at in a recent study was spanking, as researchers asked if corporal punishment could possibly cause a mental disorder.
Past research has shown that severe child abuse can have an effect on a person's mental well-being, but a new study published in the July issue of the journal Pediatrics explores the possibility of a link between mental health disorders and harsh physical punishment that doesn’t meet the criteria for physical abuse. Researchers from Canada found that physical punishment even without child neglect or physical, sexual or emotional abuse was linked to mood disorders, anxiety disorders, substance abuse and personality disorders. The examples they looked at were instances of slapping, hitting, pushing and shoving.
That information may be hard to swallow for those who still believe that if you spare the rod, you spoil the child. Many of today's parents argue that they were spanked as children and suffer no ill effects in adulthood, but that doesn’t change the research. Previous studies have shown that those who were spanked are at a higher risk to be depressed, use or abuse alcohol, hit their spouse or own children and even engage in violent or criminal behaviors.
The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Canadian Pediatric Society seem to agree. Both groups discourage spanking and other forms of physical punishment. That may sound harsh, but 32 countries have made it illegal for parents and other caregivers to use physical punishment against children. Those behind this most recent study encourage the use of positive parenting strategies instead. Praising children when they are something right can be more effective than negative reprimands. When discipline is necessary, they suggest withholding privileges, using time-outs or offering consequences as a way of curbing unwanted behaviors.
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