Harsh discipline increases the likelihood that a child will develop long-term mental health problems – this is the conclusion of a recent study (University of Cambridge and University College Dublin).
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The researchers found that those children who had a “hostile” parent and who were exposed to harsh discipline at age three were 1.5 times more likely to have mental health symptoms rated as “high risk” by the age of nine, unlike those who had no such discipline, he writes sciencedaily.com.
Harsh discipline involves physically or psychologically hostile treatment (e.g., yelling at the child on a regular basis, frequent physical punishment, isolating the child when the child misbehaves or behaves with which the parent does not agree, etc., punishing the child in unpredictably depending on the mood of the parent(s).
The researchers looked at the children’s mental health symptoms at three, five and nine years of age. They studied both internalizing symptoms (such as anxiety and social withdrawal) and externalizing symptoms (such as impulsive, aggressive behavior and hyperactivity).
Children’s mental health is not only influenced by parenting style, but also by other important factors such as gender, physical health and socio-economic status.
The researchers say teachers, health professionals, and other adults should be aware of the potential influence a hostile parent can have on a child’s mental health.
More than 7,500 Irish children participated in the research, the lead author is Ioannis Katsantonis, and the results of the study were published in Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences.
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