title: Parental use of corporal punishment in Europe: intersection between public health and policy.
abstract: Studies have linked the use of corporal punishment of children to the development of mental health disorders. Despite the recommendation of international governing bodies for a complete ban of the practice, there is little European data available on the effects of corporal punishment on mental health and the influence of laws banning corporal punishment. Using data from the School Children Mental Health Europe survey, the objective of this cross-sectional study was to examine the prevalence and legal status of corporal punishment across six European countries and to evaluate the association between parental use of corporal punishment and children's mental health. The study found that odds of having parents who reported using occasional to frequent corporal punishment were 1.7 times higher in countries where its use is legal, controlling for socio-demographic factors. Children with parents who reported using corporal punishment had higher rates of both externalized and internalized mental health disorders.
authors: Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, Department of Epidemiology, New York, New York, United States of America; École des Hautes Études en Santé Publique, EA4057 Paris Descartes University, Paris, France.
authors: Nathalie
authors: N
authors: duRivage
authors: Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, Department of Epidemiology, New York, New York, United States of America.
authors: Katherine
authors: K
authors: Keyes
authors: École des Hautes Études en Santé Publique, EA4057 Paris Descartes University, Paris, France.
authors: Emmanuelle
authors: E
authors: Leray
authors: École des Hautes Études en Santé Publique, EA4057 Paris Descartes University, Paris, France.
authors: Ondine
authors: O
authors: Pez
authors: The Romanian League for Mental Health, Bucharest, Romania.
authors: Adina
authors: A
authors: Bitfoi
authors: Yeniden Health and Education Society, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Ceren
authors: C
authors: Koç
authors: Institute of Psychology, University of Koblenz-Landau Campus, Koblenz, Germany.
authors: Dietmar
authors: D
authors: Goelitz
authors: Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors: Rowella
authors: R
authors: Kuijpers
authors: Clinic of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Vilnius, Vilnius, Lithuania.
authors: Sigita
authors: S
authors: Lesinskiene
authors: New Bulgarian University, Sofia, Bulgaria.
authors: Zlatka
authors: Z
authors: Mihova
authors: Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors: Roy
authors: R
authors: Otten
authors: École des Hautes Études en Santé Publique, EA4057 Paris Descartes University, Paris, France.
authors: Christophe
authors: C
authors: Fermanian
authors: École des Hautes Études en Santé Publique, EA4057 Paris Descartes University, Paris, France.
authors: Viviane
authors: V
authors: Kovess-Masfety
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D008603:Mental Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents; D015995:Prevalence; D062486:Public Health Surveillance; D011678:Punishment; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult