Some people live by the ancient parenting principle that if you “spare
the rod” you “spoil the child.” While this is a common
debate among parents, a recent study has shown that those who were spanked
as kids have a higher potential to suffer mental health problems as they
age. The study alleges the physical punishment brings on these mental
issues even if the child didn’t receive any more extreme forms of
violence or abuse at the hands of their parents.
The children who reported harsh physical punishment that were not abusive
still had a potential for depression, anxiety, mania, and drug or alcohol
dependency. These conditions were at least 2 to 5 percent more common
in those adults that were physically hit as children in an effort to correct
them of their wrongs. These children also suffered antisocial maladies
and emotional dependencies. The study concludes by beckoning parents to
avoid using physical punishment on their children in any form or extremity.
More and more physicians are now encouraging their patients to avoid harming
their kids with physical smacks to correct behavior.
The American Academy of Pediatricians has taken the position that hitting
a child is not beneficial to that child’s development, regardless
of the reason for hitting. If you have been characteristically hitting
your children you may end up caught in a child abuse or domestic violence
dispute. Those who are sensitive to physical punishment may report you
to a social worker. If you are found to be abusive in any way, then you
may lose custody of your children. Whenever you are involved in a
domestic violence situation, you need the aid of a professional family lawyer. You will
want to prove your reasoning for physical punishment and try to right
the wrong as soon as possible. Talk to a family lawyer at the
Hopper, Hopper & Mulligan, PLLC for more information.