Text Size
Smaller
Bigger
Parenting

Getting Spanked as a Child Increases Your Risk of Mental Illness as an Adult

posted 12:31 AM EST, Tue July 03, 2012
more sharing options »
Spankings Increase Risk of Future Mental Illness © Demandaj

Canadian researchers say getting spanked as a child increases your risk of developing a mental illness as an adult.

John Lee
by John Lee
Editor
Google+ Facebook

Basing their findings on a questionnaire study of more than 35 000 American adults, the researchers say that harsh physical punishment (spankings, slaps, pushing and shoving etc.) cause an increased risk of future mental illness, even when parents only sometimes administer such punishments and when such punishments are not so severe to qualify as abuse.

Both boys and girls experienced an increased risk of future mental illness after corporal punishment and the effect was not related to existing mental illness or dysfunction in the family.

According to the research, receiving harsh physical punishment as a child increases your risk of:

  • Schizotypal personality disorders by 7.2%
  • Antisocial personality disorder by 5.5%
  • Mania by 5.2%
  • Narcissistic personality disorder by 4.7%
  • Borderline personality disorder by 4.6%
  • Alcohol dependence by 3.4%
  • Drug dependence by 3%

Although corporal punishment of children is illegal in 30 countries it remains legal in both the US and Canada.

Based on the results of the study, the researchers urge pediatricians to counsel parents still using corporal punishment on more effective and less risky disciplinary practices – a recommendation which does not conflict with the American Academy of Pediatricians’ policy statement which advises that children not be hit at any time, for any reason.

They also suggest that given the link between corporal punishment and future mental illness, public health polices which discouraged the use of harsh physical punishments could do a lot to reduce the burden of mental illness in society.

The full research findings are published in Pediatrics.

Share It Share this page on Google+, Facebook or Twitter Email It Send this page Print It Print friendly page Subscribe Subscribe to this topic category
Story Highlights
  • Corporal Punishment: Increases risk of future mental illness
  • Addiction: Children who receive harsh physical punishment are 3.4% more likely to develop a future alcohol addiction and 3% more likely to develop a future drug addiction
Creative Commons License
Copyright Notice
We welcome republishing of our content on condition that you credit Choose Help and the respective authors. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
Helpful Information
For Parents: Modeling Healthy Drinking
Parents Who Binge Drink - Don’t Be Surprised When Your Teens Do Likewise! © Don Fulano
Teens that delay their first experimentation with alcohol until the age of 21 have virtually no risk of ever developing an alcohol abuse problem, but what can parents do to keep these experimentally prone youngsters from trying alcohol? - Researchers say that one of the most important things you can do to keep your children safe is to set a good example in the home and to practice what you preach! Read Article
Prevention August 11, 2010
Helping Children Cope
Helping Children Cope after a Disaster © United Nations Development Programme
A guide to how children feel and act after experiencing a disaster and what parents can do to minimize fear and other harms. Read Article
Trauma Survivors January 20, 2010
Your Teen Hates You: Now What?
What to Do When Your Teen Child Hates You © Cotidad
Don't take it personally. Children and their relationships to their parents change as they go through different developmental stages. Being aware of this allows a parent to adapt to this as well as to not take things personally when they shouldn’t. Read Article
Parenting & Family May 19, 2013
Like Our Site? Follow Us!