Spanking children raises chances of mental illness: study

If you were spanked or hit as a child, you have a slightly higher risk of developing a mental disorder, according to Canadian researchers.

The research, published in Monday’s edition of the journal Pediatrics, looked at almost 35,000 people and found that those who were spanked as children had between two and five per cent higher chance of having a disorder such as depression, anxiety issues, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, and even substance abuse.

There was also a four to seven per cent greater chance of experiencing more serious problems, such as personality disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and intellectual disabilites.

Many parents Global National correspondent Crystal Goomansingh approached in Winnipeg on Monday didn’t feel comfortable speaking about spanking. It appears it’s a taboo.

Vivian Bright, a grandmother, says, “There is a feeling now that you have to be careful of what you do because of how it will be received by others.”

Cynthia Klassen, a mother of two, reveals she does spank her kids from time to time. “When I resort to doing it, they must be doing something pretty unsafe.”

The study lead’s author, Tracie Afifi of the University of Manitoba, isn’t suggesting spanking alone causes mental health issues – but rather, that there is an increased risk of developing certain disorders.

“If we were able to reduce or eliminate all physical punishment in the population, then the prevalence of axis I disorders may be reduced by approximately two to five per cent.”

In 1979, Sweden became the first country to ban spanking. Now, a total of 32 countries have moved in the same direction. South Sudan was the latest to join the movement in 2011.

Spanking remains legal in Canada.

“It is another piece of science that adds to what we already know about physical punishment,” says Afifi, who says there are better options to punish children.

The study is the first to look at the correlation between corporal punishment and psychological problems. It did not look at factors like severe physical abuse or sexual abuse that left injuries or bruises. Instead, the research focused on “harsh physical punishment” from elders, which involved hitting, slapping, shoving or grabbing.

Previous research has found abused children were more likely to be more aggressive, and did experience mental health issues as adults.

Follow Crystal on Twitter: @cgoomansingh

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