CHICAGO, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- A study of the University of Michigan (UM) provides evidence that spanking and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have statistically indistinguishable effects on externalizing behavior problems in early childhood.
ACEs include measures of physical and emotional abuse, neglect, intimate partner violence, parental mental health problems, parental substance use, parental incarceration and parental death.
In the study, the researchers analyzed the responses from 2,380 families in the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study. Mothers reported outcomes of externalizing and internalizing child behavior problems at age 5; and the main predictors, ACEs, and spanking, at age 3.
ACEs and spanking at 3 years were unique risk factors for increased externalizing problems at 5 years, the study shows. Results support calls to consider physical punishment as a form of ACE.
"This suggests that the detrimental effects of spanking and ACEs on children are likely to be similar," said Julie Ma, the study's lead author and assistant professor of social work at UM-Flint.
The study, posted on UM's website on Thursday, has been published in the Journal of Pediatrics. Enditem
