New Study Links Mental Illness And Spanking
By: Garret Krier
Updated: July 3, 2012
A new study in the American Journal of Pediatrics connects spanking your kids to mental illness.
The research links spanking and mental illness later in life, such as drug and alcohol abuse.
Fayetteville Licensed Professional Counselor Zach Newcomb does not wholly disagree.
"You can do some level of damage if spanking is done out of anger or if it is done out of hate," said Newcomb.
But Newcomb also says some discipline is needed. "It is an absolutely vital tool for any family," said Newcomb. The catch is it has to be done correctly. So what's the right way?
"Give the kid a hug afterward. It should not be a negative thing. They need to know you are with them. That you are working with them that you are really after a very specific behavior," said Newcomb.
In the end Newcomb says you have to do what is best for your family. "No spanking or spanking overly harshly causes huge issues in a child's behavior. And their mental ability to live a healthy and happy life. And you have to find the middle ground," said Newcomb.
So while some argue spanking can damage a child's mental health. "I just sit them in the corner or against the wall and I just let them scream and cry it out," said one woman.
Others say spank away. "It happened to me and it did not hurt me. I never
became abusive so I think it is a good thing," said another man.
Researchers stress the study does not say spankings cause mental illness. They say it just shows a link between the two.
To learn more about Newcomb's thoughts on spanking you can check out his website at www.zachnewcomb.com
The research links spanking and mental illness later in life, such as drug and alcohol abuse.
Fayetteville Licensed Professional Counselor Zach Newcomb does not wholly disagree.
"You can do some level of damage if spanking is done out of anger or if it is done out of hate," said Newcomb.
But Newcomb also says some discipline is needed. "It is an absolutely vital tool for any family," said Newcomb. The catch is it has to be done correctly. So what's the right way?
"Give the kid a hug afterward. It should not be a negative thing. They need to know you are with them. That you are working with them that you are really after a very specific behavior," said Newcomb.
In the end Newcomb says you have to do what is best for your family. "No spanking or spanking overly harshly causes huge issues in a child's behavior. And their mental ability to live a healthy and happy life. And you have to find the middle ground," said Newcomb.
So while some argue spanking can damage a child's mental health. "I just sit them in the corner or against the wall and I just let them scream and cry it out," said one woman.
Others say spank away. "It happened to me and it did not hurt me. I never
became abusive so I think it is a good thing," said another man.
Researchers stress the study does not say spankings cause mental illness. They say it just shows a link between the two.
To learn more about Newcomb's thoughts on spanking you can check out his website at www.zachnewcomb.com
