Borderline Personality Disorder

Spanking linked to increased risk of mental health problems

A child who is spanked, slapped, grabbed or shoved as a form of punishment runs a higher risk of becoming an adult who suffers from a wide range of mental and personality disorders, even when that harsh physical punishment was occasional and when the child experienced no more extreme form of violence or abuse at the hands of a parent or caregiver.

Spanking linked to increased risk of mental health problems (LINK)

By Melissa Healy, Los Angeles TimesFor the Booster Shots blog

July 2, 2012, 3:15 p.m.

A child who is spanked, slapped, grabbed or shoved as a form of punishment runs a higher risk of becoming an adult who suffers from a wide range of mental and personality disorders, even when that harsh physical punishment was occasional and when the child experienced no more extreme form of violence or abuse at the hands of a parent or caregiver, says a new study.

Among adults who reported harsh physical punishment short of physical or sexual abuse, psychiatric disorders including depression, anxiety disorders, mania and drug or alcohol dependency were between 2% and 5% more common. And more complex psychiatric illnesses marked by paranoia, antisocial behavior, emotional dependency and narcissism were between 4% and 7% more likely, according to the study published in the journal Pediatrics.

Excerpt: “Adults physically punished as children were even more likely to be diagnosed with personality disorders: Those who experienced such discipline were 7.2% more likely to be diagnosed as adults with schizotypal personality disorders, in which a strong pattern of odd or paranoid thinking results in job loss, relationship failures and other woes; they were 5.5% more likely to get a diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder, in which low levels of empathy and moral responsibility result in illegal behavior and hurtful relationships; they were 4.7% more likely to be diagnosed with narcissistic personality characterized by extreme egotism and self-regard; and 4.6% more likely to have a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder, in which unpredictable swings of neediness, narcissism and risk-taking often result in a string of failed relationships.

One Comment

  • Mary

    Wow, I’d like to know how messed up I am then. Will find out tommorow, first psychotherapist session, wonder if she will pick my bpd lol

    My father beaten me up numerious times ( apparently I wasn’t an angel, used to run away and not come back for like 10 hrs as 5yr old lol),but not only that, he raised me military style and put fear into my bones, esp from authority. Also he was a loving father at the same time, thought me how to play piano and all that I know. He was practically my mother and father. Yeah, mum was there in the background, didn’t bond with her. She was more like my teacher/tutor. Career woman. My dad still tells me not to trust anyone. Told him I cannt talk to him for a while coz I’m going to get myself fixed. Sick of all these fears, tears, anxiety and rage. Feel like Im going to get a heart attack one of these days. Sowi, I vent on here, I just don’t know where to go or who to speak to, and I’m real freaked out for having to go to therapist tommorow. Will I tell her all? Probably not, as she just wants my money, but I carefully picked her, she looks genuwine, maybe she not only wants money, maybe she has some sort of care factor. God, help me with my trust issues. Thanx for the site, its very helpful. After 2 yrs of research I finally figured out I have bpd for sure, I knew all the other diagnoses weren’t quite it. This is me 100%. Wish me luck, I don’t even know who I’m talking to, but I hope someone hears me….

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