Spanking children & mental health: Punishment linked to disorders later

[Calum Veteran]

Spanking children & mental health: Punishment linked to disorders later in life

Spanking or hitting children as a means of punishment may increase their risk of mental disorders later in life, a new study finds.

Among adults, 2 to 7 percent of cases of mental disorders ? including major depression, anxiety disorder and paranoia ? are attributable to physical punishment that occurred during childhood, the researchers said.

The study did not include people who experienced maltreatment as children, such as such as physical or sexual abuse, or emotional neglect.

[. . .] Read more.

[He's Dead Jim]

Why am I not surprised by this. :(

[4CxbqFxVnstmA Veteran]

Spanking children & mental health: Punishment linked to disorders later in life

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I was spanked twice hard (once with a leather belt) as a boy (for reasons I can't remember) and both times are among the top ten things I strongly remember about my childhood under 10 or 11 years. Those were particularly traumatic events and it's sad they are so prominent in my memory. :/

[Davo]

I don't think it completely swings one way or the other. You're either simple minded and physical punishment works or you find better ways to hide/cover up your misbehavior.

[Calum Veteran]

I was spanked twice hard (once with a leather belt) as a boy (for reasons I can't remember) and both times are among the top ten things I strongly remember about my childhood under 10 or 11 years. Those were particularly traumatic events and it's sad they are so prominent in my memory. :/

It is terrible that those are some of the top 10 moments you remember about that part of your childhood. It seems to back up this study :/

[4CxbqFxVnstmA Veteran]

It is terrible that those are some of the top 10 moments you remember about that part of your childhood. It seems to back up this study :/

I guess so! Well, I'd definitely say that it's not good to beat children.

I think the second time my father spanked me he said something like "This hurts me more than it hurts you". That stuck in my mind. And it was confusing. But I soon afterward did think that he really believed it.

I can't remember much about the first time, except visual imagery. Anyway it is creepy that such memories rank so high in my mind. I think probably it would be better if more parents simply tried to reason with children instead of beating them.

Slapping/spanking/caning children is just another form of bullying. :no:

[Glassed Silver]

Cue the "I got spanked and I'm fine, so everyone must be fine or is sick from the get-go" trolls...

Glassed Silver:mac

[Raa]

Oh please. :rolleyes:

[Solid Knight]

I got spanked and I'm fine so everyone else must be sick.

[techbeck]

I was spanked, with a hand, as a kid. I had a bunch of issues when I was younger and I needed more of a firm hand. If a firm hand wasnt give, then I would probably be in trouble with the law today. Some people just need the extra incentive. Do I condone using anything other than a bare open hand, no.

I was also hit with a belt by adults as well. (not by family) I can tell ya, there is a BIG difference between the two. One is to get your attention, the other is to cause harm. Hell, the Jr High I went to had a paddle in the principals office with holes drilled in to it. Which is completely wrong.

[Rohdekill]

I was spanked twice hard (once with a leather belt) as a boy (for reasons I can't remember) and both times are among the top ten things I strongly remember about my childhood under 10 or 11 years. Those were particularly traumatic events and it's sad they are so prominent in my memory. :/

Just because you can "remember" these things does not directly impact your adult mental state. I was beaten with a belt, had my mouthed washed out with soap, beaten by my five siblings, yet I am not depressed, have anxiety, nor am I paranoid. I also believe, looking back, I justly deserved everything and it taught me boundaries and respect.

Seems like these data collectors love to twist all kinds of things around to make their hypothesis meet the numbers. "What? You're child just died and you are depressed? And you were spanked as a child? Therefore, being spanked = adult depression." Such b.s.

[Rippleman]

Blame everyone else but yourself I guess...

[PsYcHoKiLLa]

Absolute nonsense by hippy new-age idiots. You try not disciplining children at all and see what happens.

[Buttus]

that's strange, because most people 40+ were spanked as kids, and they're pretty well adjusted, while the kids now are all diagnosed with something, and they're not spanked at all....

i think this study has things backwards

[Roger H. Veteran]

^^^^ Kinda agree with Buttus there. My gf doesn't believe in spankings (she was spanked as a kid too) but she's all like yeah, put the kid in timeout and if that doesn't work go see the counselor or something. Yeah, you can't get the kid to sit in timeout but you are going to get them to go with you to a shrink and sit there politely?

I don't think spankings are needed for every kid. I also believe there is a difference between punishment and abuse. I don't think certain forms or punishment will work on every kid in the world either so you have to do what works. If that is a spanking or threatening one then keep that up. It's 100% better to get a lil spanking as a kid than spanking in a jail cell from a big black guy called, BOLO or something. LOL

[theyarecomingforyou]

Cue the "I got spanked and I'm fine, so everyone must be fine or is sick from the get-go" trolls...

You say that as if such opinions should be summarily dismissed. The reality is that physical discipline has many benefits to the child, as it can be used to discourage bad behaviour (hitting other children, etc) and dangerous behaviour (running out into the road, etc). I agree that using physical implements / weapons (belts, objects, etc) is completely unacceptable, no matter the severity of the child's actions. I was smacked when I seriously misbehaved as a child and I believe that it had a positive impact upon me as an individual. It was only ever used on serious occasions and I always knew I was stepping over-the-line. The rest of the time if I misbehaved I was made to stand in a corner and was not allowed to leave until a certain period of time had elapsed (usually about 5-10 minutes). And the latter happened quite a lot, as I had two younger brothers and we would get into fights.

It's unfair for people to take a report like this and use it to discredit the use of physical discipline when it doesn't take into account the frequency with which it is used. Some of the people in the report noted it occurring on a regular basis, which is really not acceptable - but that should not be compared to a child who is smacked maybe once or twice a year and only when the reason for it is fully explained to them. There has not been enough - if any - research into the benefits of physical discipline. You can't make an informed decision without knowing the evidence for both sides. But judging by the number of unruly children who have clearly never been properly disciplined I cannot fault parents who are only doing what they believe is best for their child. Few would argue that the decline in physical discipline has resulted in better behaved and less troubled children; many would argue the exact opposite.

When I have children I intend to use physical discipline only as a last resort but will not hesitate if I feel it is warranted.

[Phantom Spaceman]

Among adults, 2 to 7 percent of cases of mental disorders ? including major depression, anxiety disorder and paranoia ? are attributable to physical punishment that occurred during childhood, the researchers said.

Certainly doesn't seem like a lot out of the bunch.

[Guest glyfz]

Cue the "I got spanked and I'm fine, so everyone must be fine or is sick from the get-go" trolls...

Glassed Silver:mac

Cue the bleeding heart liberals saying that kids should be reasoned with and not smacked, because that's really proving to work well!

[mudslag]

Human kind survived how many thousands of years with a little tough discipline then the generation of "punish your kids with love" came along and now we have a generation or two of youngsters who think the world owes them the world.

[4CxbqFxVnstmA Veteran]

Are people who are prepared to beat children worthy of having them?

[mudslag]

Are people who are prepared to beat children worthy of having them?

I guess some people aren't prepared to understand the distinction between a spank and a beating.

[Growled Member]

Cue the bleeding heart liberals saying that kids should be reasoned with and not smacked, because that's really proving to work well!

Yeah, we can look at our modern society to see how well that was worked......not at all.

[ArialBlue]

Sure the **** explains me nicely.

[moloko]

I was spanked alot as a kid. I did alot of mischievious things though. My dad only brought out the belt a few times. I cant even remember its not that tramatic. if getting spanked hurts your pysche you are a *****. since time began kids have been spanked...just now its a problem. poppyCOCK

Now there is a difference between spanking and child abuse.

[Hum]

Well that explains me. :s