Physical punishment in children has an impact on health even over the years

Violence is never the answer, much less when educating. The physical punishment to respond to a bad behavior has been used in the past by many fathers and mothers, which does not mean that it is advisable. In fact, acting in this way affects the child in multiple ways, from when the child thinks that his parents do not want it until other repercussions are seen in the long term.

This has been determined by a study of University of Michigan in which a link has been found between the presence of physical punishment in the smallest and a deficit mental health in adult life. A call to those parents who think that responding violently to physical behavior is a good idea to respond to these attitudes.


Risk activities

The findings of the study showed that resorting to physical punishment to respond to misbehavior in the youngest children has a serious impact on children's physical and mental health. These data were found after analyzing the cases of more than 8,300 adults. Participants who had to respond to a survey in which they asked about the presence or not of physical punishment in their childhood.

Of all the respondents, a 55% They acknowledged receiving some type of physical punishment several times a year during their childhood. Of all of them, 37% were more likely to have self-harmed, compared to those who were never answered in childhood.


At the same time, those who had received physical punishment in childhood were a third more likely to have used some type of drug, and a 23% more of the likelihood of drinking alcohol in large quantities. A link that was proven after the researchers weighed other factors, such as the level of education and other elements of the environment in which the child developed.

"Many adults think 'I was whipped as a child, and I'm fine'", explains the doctor Benjamin Siegel, member of the Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health of the American Academy of Pediatrics. However, this specialist explains that this sensation is not real and that in reality they probably exhibit undesirable behaviors.

Alternatives to physical punishment

This study makes it clear that physical punishment is not a good idea when it comes to educating. You always have to bet on alternatives that does not imply violence since on the one hand the minor will suffer these negative effects and on the other, they will be telling the children that aggression is good for resolving conflicts. These are some alternatives:


- Limits and norms. From the beginning, the child must know what is right and what is wrong, in this way undesirable behaviors that require punishment will be avoided.

- Other consequences. As standards are established, there must also be a system of "fines". If the child abuses his leisure time, he must accept a shorter time the next day, if he shows an unacceptable behavior, he should assimilate that he should isolate himself from the group so that he does not bother more.

- Reassure the situation. Violence on the part of parents can be a nervous response even behavior of the little ones who seem not to relent in their bad behavior. It is always better to have a calm attitude and try to stop the child by making him see that the authority is the father and that he will not get away with it.

- Accept that they are children. Children play, explore and make mistakes. You can not expect perfect behavior and therefore you have to be prepared for behaviors that break with normality. In this way you can achieve the necessary temperance for these situations.

Damián Montero

Video: How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime | Nadine Burke Harris


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