The relationships between harsh physical punishment and child maltreatment in childhood and intimate partner violence in adulthood

BMC Public Health

Research Article

Natalie Mota¹  Harriet L. MacMillan²  Tracie O. Afifi³  Jitender Sareen⁴ 

[1] Department of Clinical Health Psychology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada;Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada;Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada;Departments of Community Health Sciences and Psychiatry, University of Manitoba, S113-750 Bannatyne Avenue, R3E 0W5, Winnipeg, MB, Canada;Departments of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada;

关键词: Child abuse;    Child neglect;    Physical abuse;    Sexual abuse;    Intimate partner violence;    Physical punishment;    And family violence;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12889-017-4359-8

 received in 2016-01-05, accepted in 2017-04-28,  发布年份 2017

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundPhysical punishment of children is an important public health concern. Yet, few studies have examined how physical punishment is related to other types of child maltreatment and violence across the lifespan. Therefore, the objective of the current study was to examine if harsh physical punishment (i.e., being pushed, grabbed, shoved, hit, and/or slapped without causing marks, bruises, or injury) is associated with an increased likelihood of more severe childhood maltreatment (i.e., physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, physical neglect, emotional neglect, and exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV)) in childhood and perpetration or victimization of IPV in adulthood.MethodsData were drawn from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions collected in 2004 to 2005 (n = 34,402, response rate = 86.7%), a representative United States adult sample.ResultsHarsh physical punishment was associated with increased odds of childhood maltreatment, including emotional abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse, physical neglect, emotional neglect, and exposure to IPV after adjusting for sociodemographic factors, family history of dysfunction, and other child maltreatment types (range 1.6 to 26.6). Harsh physical punishment was also related to increased odds of experiencing IPV in adulthood (range 1.4 to 1.7).ConclusionsIt is important for parents and professionals working with children to be aware that pushing, grabbing, shoving, hitting, or slapping children may increase the likelihood of emotional abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse, physical neglect, emotional neglect, and exposure to IPV in childhood and also experiencing IPV victimization and/or perpetration in later adulthood.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s). 2017