Harsh discipline increases risk of children developing lasting mental health problems (article)
“Hostile parenting involves frequent harsh treatment and discipline and can be physical or psychological. It may, for example, involve shouting at children regularly, routine physical punishment, isolating children when they misbehave, damaging their self-esteem, or punishing children unpredictably depending on the parent's mood.
The researchers charted children's mental health symptoms at ages three, five and nine. They studied both internalizing mental health symptoms (such as anxiety and social withdrawal) and externalizing symptoms (such as impulsive and aggressive behavior, and hyperactivity).
About 10% of the children were found to be in a high-risk band for poor mental health. Children who experienced hostile parenting were much more likely to fall into this group.
Importantly, the study makes clear that parenting style does not completely determine mental health outcomes. Children's mental health is shaped by multiple risk factors, including gender, physical health, and socio-economic status. The researchers do argue, however, that mental health professionals, teachers and other practitioners should be alert to the potential influence of parenting on a child who shows signs of having poor mental health. They add that extra support for the parents of children who are already considered to be at risk could help to prevent these problems from developing.”
My Takeaways:
While many people have different definitions of hostile parenting and where they draw the line of what constitutes the definition, the article defines such as “frequent harsh treatment and discipline and can be physical or psychological.” This can be shouting/beating your kids regularly or in unpredictable manners depending solely on the parent’s mood.
This article shows that children who go on to develop poor mental health outcomes found some overlap with hostile parenting. This also includes hostile discipline from teachers as well.
Well it is clear that there are various factors that affect a children’s mental health outcome such as SES, social health, etc, it’s important to consider parenting style as a potential aspect when thinking about how we can promote positive parenting.
Full article is here!
#Parenting #MentalHealth #Development
Definitely
Amen. Add bulling at school, difficulties to fit in, and failure to live up to perfection, and we end up here at this forum. Of course, genetics play a role...
I've been burnt out for periods of time in my life trying to convince my parents and others around me that hitting your children or shouting is not the right way to raise a child. They always say "oh I got hit as a kid and i turned out fine" but they are never ever fine haha. If you had a guest at your house who accidentally bumped over your vase and it shattered on the ground, you would say "don't worry about it, it was an accident" and help them clean up. But instead of telling children when they break things "it was an accident let's clean up", they yell and possibly spank the child?? How come hitting your partner or shouting is abuse? Or doing that to the elderly is elder abuse? Or going to jail for fighting a stranger in the road is assault? Or the possibility of having your pet removed and going to jail for spanking your dog? But children?? We can hit them because they're small and innocent? No. I advocate that all countries need to criminalize corporal punishment of children.
