PA R E N T I N G
C
Adverse effects of
beating your kid
hildhood abuse can trigger obesity in adulthood
and also cause mental problems, suggests studies. Lisa Antao finds out why. It's a given that when
parents fight in front of kids, it can affect them adversely.
But little do most of us realise that spanking, scolding
children in an aggressive manner under the garb of disciplining them can have a disturbing effect on them too.
According to a recent study, kids are subjected to physical abuse are at an increased risk of mental disorders
in adulthood. Another study says that child abuse might
trigger obesity in adulthood. BT spoke to experts to find
out how and why factors contributing to childhood abuse
can have undesirable far-reaching effects.
Physical abuse
Corporate wellness expert Dr Hetal Desai opines,
"Spanking including slapping, beating, etc. leaves negative imprints on the subconsious mind of the child
of any age. The event or
incident is registered as
a negative trauma in the
mind and it effects are felt
throughout life, every time
the negative memory gets
triggered.
Implications
cold be from developing
fears, low-self esteem, anger, hatred, stammering,
Passive aggressive behaviour and much more."
She cites the example of
one of her patients: A general manager of a MNC
came for the issue of low confidence and stammering
every time having to face a higher authority and making
a presentation to a group or authority figure. While healing the subconscious mind it was understood that as a
child during his vacations he visited his native place and
there in the neighbourhood was a teacher who spanked
him everyday for the smallest silly mistake. (He was only
a participant for the vacation class then). The memory
of the teacher spanking was getting triggered everytime
he faced an authority figure and caused problems in his
personal professional life.
Weight problems
Consultant psychiatrist and sexologist Dr Dhananjay
Gambhire agrees that abuse may trigger obesity in
adulthood. "Obesity as a result of overeating and sedentary lifestyle are characteristics of faulty coping, both
of them are used as escape mechanisms for unwanted
situations. Both of them indicate low-self esteem and
depression, which leads to low confidence. The obesity
again aggravates and the person becomes increasingly
withdrawn," says he and adds that childhood experiences are very important in one's personality development.
Negative childhood experiences have long term consequences in terms of hopelessness, depression and drug
abuse also.
Coping
Strategies for treating the abused child are varied and
will be used as appropriate to the child's presenting
problems. Dr Gambhire recommended the following
treatment approaches:
- Cognitive-behavioural strategies
- Relaxation training
- Education regarding the abuse process and effects of
abuse
- Skills training
- Supportive strategies
- Teaching self-protective
strategies
- Behavioural strategies/
parent training
- Clarification of responsibility/blame and offender's
behaviour
Education in the use of
self-protective
strategies
is important for minimising
the likelihood that the child
will be abused or neglected
again. It is important to establish a safety plan within
the home, delineate danger cues, and identify support persons in the child's environment to decrease the
secrecy within previously abusive/neglectful families.
This, in turn, is expected to minimise the risk of repeated
abuse.
Spanking very common in India
It is easily observed that spanking children is a common practice in our culture. Most of us got spanked by
our parents for mischief, disobeying, for failing in exams,
etc. Agrees Dr Desai who says, "Spanking children and
transferring the anger and frustration by one or both parents is very common in India and specially in Metro cities. The pressure of performing and meeting higher expectations set by parents, peers, etc. take on the child.
Also to mention the complexity of relationships in parents, work frustration of working parents, lack of quality
time between parents and children and unhealthy study
habits all are common causes of child being the target.
and thus spanking, slapping, punishing, etc. is very
common in every other family."
38 | BOOM