PARENTS who smack or shout at their children place them at greater risk
of health problems later in life - including cancer, new research has
found.
Scientists say those who hit or raise their voices at
youngsters expose them to the risk of developing cancer, heart disease
and asthma. They claim only minor smacks and shouting can have the same
long term health implications as serious abuse and trauma.
The report
found use of ‘harsh punishments’ in childhood increases the risk of
disease in later life. It says the link could be caused because smacking
and shouting at children causes them stress. The increased stress
levels then cause biological changes within an individual which can lead
to serious health problems, the study found.
The study was carried
out by psychologists from Plymouth University in Devon and published in
the Journal of Behavioural Medicine.
Professor Michael Hyland, from the University’s School of Psychology, led the study.
He
said: ‘Early life stress in the form of trauma and abuse is known to
create long term changes that predispose to later disease. ‘But this
study shows that in a society where corporal punishment is considered
normal, the use of corporal punishment is sufficiently stressful to have
the same kinds of long term impact as abuse and trauma.’