While it is obvious to many of us that physical punishment of children, in addition to being humiliating, can leave signs in their personality, there are still those who argue that spanking or cheeks cannot be considered as abuse.
In this regard I can say that to know whether or not to consider abuse, in addition to sticking to the definition of the term, we could ask the recipients of the blows, their opinion may help us with something. And I would also like to make it clear that although we can establish differences between a beating and a couple of smacks, they move in the field of morality and physical consequences, however, the child is emotionally hurt regardless of the degree of violence, and this is why it is transmitted when hitting.
Since on other occasions we have already spoken on the blog about this topic, today I would like to bring you the vision of two Canadian studies carried out this year, and of which you may have already heard. Joan Durrant (of the University of Manitoba) and Ron Enson (of the Pediatric Hospital of Eastern Ontario), stated at the beginning of the year that 'In the long term, physical punishment is related to serious mental health problems, such as addictions, depression or anxiety'.
Physical punishment is associated with higher levels of aggressiveness.
The authors of this study had analyzed research published in the last 20 years, and they had no qualms about stating that, without exception, physical punishment is associated with higher levels of aggressiveness against parents, siblings, peers and spouses. In fact, children who receive whips tend to become more aggressive over time than those who are not mistreated.
I think we don't have to be surprised by these claims: after all, parents are a mirror in which children look at each other, and in turn, in children we consciously or unconsciously project feelings and ways of acting.
The study was published in the Journal of the Canadian Medical Association (CMAJ). Joan Durrant and Ron Enson, said after analyzing the results that Physical punishment is also associated with mental problems such as depression, anxiety, and toxic consumption.
Apparently the punishment with blows is capable of changing and modifying entire areas in the brain that are linked to performance, while increasing vulnerability to the development of some type of addiction
Researchers talk about the possibility of preventing social problems through awareness of the consequences of the blows against children, and a more balanced parental performanceRight now, the Guide on 'How to Educate in Positive' comes to mind, because it can guide us to parents who seek a closer and empathic relationship with our children. Especially considering that many would not adopt an educational style in which other types of punishments, or reward-based systems, were present.
Mental health disorders that are associated with the blows received during childhood
Tracie Afifi (also from the University of Manitoba) last July, a study in Pediatrics. Together with his collaborators, he had used data from 34,000 people over 20 years old. The team found evidence that up to seven percent of several mental health disorders were associated with physical punishment received during childhood..
There are higher chances of anxiety and mood disorders, which include major depression, panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, agoraphobia and social phobia. Various personality disorders and alcohol and drug abuse are also related to physical punishment
Dr. Andrew Adesman is head of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at the Steven Pediatric Center, this specialist has detected limitations in the study of Tracie Afifi, however he acknowledges that the research gives us reasons to avoid physical punishment. The doctor makes a very interesting observation: 'In the health centers there are messages of all kinds related to healthy practices and habits, and surprisingly, parents are never oriented on how to avoid beating children'.
Even today, many people argue that beatings against women (for example) are not comparable to physical punishment of children, since the former seek submission, and the latter are aimed at correcting behavior. But really when you hit a child It is also intended to bend their will, although deep down parents feel helplessness for a situation that overflows them, and to which they have few resources to act.
