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Spanking, Hitting Linked to Adulthood Mental DisordersStudy concludes spanking linked to substance abuse, personality disordersRelated Content
ANCHORAGE -Calling the use of physical punishment “controversial,” a recent study by a group of Canadian scientists concluded those punished harshly as children are more likely to suffer from mental health issues later in life. According to the report, published earlier this week by the American Academy of Pediatrics, children who are pushed, slapped, hit or shoved by their parents are at an increased risk of substance abuse issues and mood, personality and anxiety disorders. While previous studies linked sexual, physical and verbal child abuse with adulthood mental health problems, researchers said the new findings revealed abuse wasn’t the only culprit. Punishments like spanking or slapping, while not traditionally deemed abusive, could be linked to the same later-in-life issues as full-blown child abuse. “Findings from this study are consistent with past research but expand the type of impairments to include several additional Axis I disorders as well as Axis II personality disorders,” the 10-page report concluded. The additional conditions included everything from schizophrenia to obsessive compulsive and antisocial disorders, but some local parents disagree with the study's findings. "I think lack of discipline leads to lazy, selfish, troublesome youth," wrote Carmen Belleau on a KTVA Facebook post. "Not saying beat your kids but 'talking' doesn't teach them consequences." Nicole Kirk said she believed the study was simply an assault on parental rights. "Spanking [not abuse] used at a parent's discretion is reasonable and a necessary tool in the proper training of children," she wrote. Some said a disciplinary spanking was a firm way to teach children respect: Some said they themselves were spanked, and they turned out alright. But for others, the study only reinforced their existing parenting beliefs. "In my experience, the kids who are spanked have far worse behaviors than those who don't," wrote Anchorage resident Chris Hall. "Spanking solves nothing and only teaches violence." Pediatric associations in both Canada and the U.S. concur. "The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly opposes striking a child for any reason, and the Canadian Pediatric Society recommends that physicians strongly discourage the use of physical punishment."
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TedtheBear said on Monday, Jul 9 at 7:20 AM
Only within a recent generation, spanking has been view as a sin. Prior to that, most generations grew up with spanking, including all the doctors and researchers making this sort of silliness. Apparently, spanking didn't affect them nor the overwhelming majority of people who been living on this planet since the Great Flood or whatever. But as usual, we do have our share of malfunctioning people each generation and I am bet that half of them, probably weren't even touched as a child and they were still mental disorders.
95903986Comrade said on Sunday, Jul 8 at 10:56 AM
My dad spanked me for smoking and cursing when I was about 7 years old and now I am suffering "mental trauma": - I cannot smoke. - I have never try drugs. - I cannot curse when I talk to my relatives. I am 44 years old now and I have great parents.
95850386DaBoss said on Saturday, Jul 7 at 9:26 AM
I agree with AkMama... Having been abused as a child(with scars to prove it)I believe that PROPERLY ADMINISTERED corporal punishment is, indeed warrented in some situations. I am not "suffering from mental issues" as the study suggests, instead, I made a choice when I was younger. I CHOSE to get out of the situation. I am now 50, with 3 college degrees and working on a 4th. I have a solid career, not just a job, a career. The disrespect I see, not just in the children, but in society as a whole, is appalling. It comes from lack of discipline across the board. Yes, corporal punishment, in judiciously applied quantities, is needed.
95781931Raven33 said on Saturday, Jul 7 at 6:07 AM
Spanking and abuse are two different things. These "scientist" have an agenda and will skew the facts to meet their needs.
95771526Anonymous said on Thursday, Jul 5 at 4:05 PM
that is only in severe cases of abuse which is to be expected...
95645605Just Sayin' said on Thursday, Jul 5 at 3:03 PM
I honestly believe that kids today are so disrespectful to adults and especially teachers, because they know that there is nothing we (parents) can do as far as punishment goes, take thier cell, okay, not let them go out, okay, tell them to go to thier room, okay....yup that'll teach 'em, Right? Okay so not let them go to the mall or the movies...they sneak out,...then what go to your room again?.... Well if children are spanked they're most likely be respectful and do better in school, I don't mean beat them, I mean spank them or slap them for talking back, not punch them or beat them with a twig/branch, but let them know you mean it and it hurts if they don't listen...
95637836alan said on Thursday, Jul 5 at 2:27 PM
What? The Good Book is forgotten? "Spare the rod; spoil the child." Someone slap the author of this study; I agree with the first two commentors.
95632875AKMama said on Thursday, Jul 5 at 1:30 PM
As a teacher, I see more problems with kids NOT being disciplined. They feel they are entitled to good grades without having to work for it, they feel they are entitled to good jobs without qualifications, they are disrespectful to others, they lack basic manners, and if they don't get their way they go running to mommy and mommy jumps in to their rescue when she should be staying out of it and letting their child assume personal responsibility and learn how to resolve their own problems. These are the same kids that were given awards for simply participating in events (can't hurt anyone's feelings) and probably neededa good, well-timed swat on the behind once in a while when time-outs, withholding prized possessions, writing sentences, standing in the corner, offering rewards for positive behavior, etc. did not work. These "let's not upset the children because they won't like us anymore" are setting little Johnny and Jane up for massive future disappointment as adults.
95624505Sean T said on Thursday, Jul 5 at 12:20 PM
Responsible adults know the difference between proper discipline and abuse. Anyone that came up with this study and anyone that supports it, probably didnt get their way when they were kids and so now have to make life hell for all other/future parents.
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