Article from Pediatrics – the official journal of the American Academy of Paediatricians on the link between harsh punishment of children and “mental disorders”.
“…harsh physical punishment independent of child maltreatment is related to mental disorders”
Adds more to the evidence that growing up in a stressed environment leads to what gets labelled as mental illnesses.
And rather than deal with that we simply dish out colourfull little pills for everyone to take.
note, It is only the abstract here but there’s also a link to a free pdf of the full article.
abstract
Physical Punishment and Mental Disorders: Results From a Nationally Representative US Sample
Published online July 2, 2012
Tracie O. Afifi, Natalie P. Mota, MAd, Patricia Dasiewicz, MScb, Harriet L. MacMillan, MD, FRCPCe, and Jitender Sareen, MD, FRCPCa,b,d
BACKGROUND: The use of physical punishment is controversial. Few studies have examined the relationship between physical punishment and a wide range of mental disorders in a nationally representative sample. The current research investigated the possible link between harsh physical punishment (ie, pushing, grabbing, shoving, slapping, hitting) in the absence of more severe child maltreatment (ie, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, physical neglect, emotional neglect, exposure to intimate partner violence) and Axis I and II mental disorders.
METHODS: Data were from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions collected between 2004 and 2005 (N = 34 653). The survey was conducted with a representative US adult population sample (aged ≥20 years). Statistical methods included logistic regression models and population-attributable fractions.
RESULTS: Harsh physical punishment was associated with increased odds of mood disorders, anxiety disorders, alcohol and drug abuse/dependence, and several personality disorders after adjusting for sociodemographic variables and family history of dysfunction (adjusted odds ratio: 1.36–2.46). Approximately 2% to 5% of Axis I disorders and 4% to 7% of Axis II disorders were attributable to harsh physical punishment.
CONCLUSIONS: Harsh physical punishment in the absence of child maltreatment is associated with mood disorders, anxiety disorders, substance abuse/dependence, and personality disorders in a general population sample. These findings inform the ongoing debate around the use of physical punishment and provide evidence that harsh physical punishment independent of child maltreatment is related to mental disorders.
Original at
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2012/06/27/peds.2011-2947
Full text article free pdf
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2012/06/27/peds.2011-2947.full.pdf+html
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