Title |
Severe physical punishment and mental health problems in an economically disadvantaged population of children and adolescents
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Published in |
Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria, February 2008
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DOI | 10.1590/s1516-44462006000400008 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Isabel Altenfelder Santos Bordin, Cristiane Silvestre Paula, Rosimeire do Nascimento, Cristiane Seixas Duarte |
Abstract |
To estimate the prevalence of severe physical punishment of children/adolescents in a low-income community, and to examine child mental health problems as a potential correlate. This study is a Brazilian cross-sectional pilot study of the World Studies of Abuse in Family Environments. A probabilistic sample of clusters including all eligible households (women aged 15-49 years, son/daughter < 18 years) was evaluated. One mother-child pair was randomly selected per household (n = 89; attrition = 11%). Outcome (severe physical punishment of children/adolescents by mother/father) was defined as shaking (if age <or= 2 years), kicking, choking, smothering, burning/scalding/branding, beating, or threatening with weapon. Three groups of potential correlates were examined: child/adolescent (age, gender, physical/mental health); mother (education, unemployment, physical/mental health, harsh physical punishment in childhood, marital violence); father (unemployment, drunkenness). Severe marital violence was defined as kicking, hitting, beating or use of /threat to use a weapon. The following standardized questionnaires were applied by trained interviewers: World Studies of Abuse in Family Environments Core Questionnaire, Child Behavior Checklist, Self-Report Questionnaire. Outcome prevalence was 10.1%. Final logistic regression models identified two correlates: maternal harsh physical punishment in childhood (total sample, OR = 5.3, p = 0.047), and child/adolescent mental health problems (sub-sample aged 4-17 years, n = 67, OR = 9.1, p = 0.017). Severe physical punishment of children/adolescents is frequent in the studied community. The victims have a higher probability of becoming future perpetrators. When intrafamilial violence occurs, child/adolescent mental health may be compromised. |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Brazil | 1 | 1% |
Unknown | 88 | 99% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Ph. D. Student | 19 | 21% |
Student > Bachelor | 13 | 15% |
Student > Master | 12 | 13% |
Researcher | 11 | 12% |
Other | 6 | 7% |
Other | 10 | 11% |
Unknown | 18 | 20% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Psychology | 19 | 21% |
Medicine and Dentistry | 15 | 17% |
Social Sciences | 12 | 13% |
Nursing and Health Professions | 5 | 6% |
Arts and Humanities | 5 | 6% |
Other | 10 | 11% |
Unknown | 23 | 26% |