title: Mental Health Consequences of Childhood Physical Abuse in Chinese Populations: A Meta-Analysis.
abstract: Childhood physical abuse (CPA) can lead to adverse mental health outcomes in adulthood, but its potential impact on Chinese populations is still unclear. This meta-analysis is the first to examine the association between CPA and mental health outcomes in Chinese populations.
  
  
  
  Studies published before December 31, 2014 were identified from Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure databases. Studies with data on the association between CPA and mental health outcomes from Chinese subjects were included. Twenty-four studies were initially identified but two were excluded because of poor quality. Two reviewers independently extracted data to generate summary effect sizes using a random-effects meta-analytic model. A priori subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed to evaluate heterogeneity and bias in these studies.
  
  
  
  Our meta-analysis of 22 studies found a significant positive association between CPA and overall mental health outcomes among all Chinese subjects (pooled effect size: odds ratio [OR] = 2.16, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.87, 2.49]) and among community samples (pooled effect size: OR = 2.06, 95% CI [1.71, 2.48]). Based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision, diagnostic criteria, CPA was more strongly associated with Axis II (OR = 2.62, 95% CI [2.13, 3.22]) than Axis I disorders (OR = 1.85, 95% CI [1.58, 2.17]).
  
  
  
  The detrimental effects of CPA on mental health outcomes in Chinese populations were comparable to, if not more than, the West. Contrary to the Chinese belief that physical punishment is a safe way to discipline children, our findings highlight the potential harm to mental health and the need to change this parenting practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ip
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Rosa S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Sophia L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China patricip@hku.hk eklchan@hkucc.hku.hk.
authors.forename: Ko Ling
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Frederick K
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chun-Bong
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Chow
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054523:Adult Survivors of Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010290:Parents
keywords: Chinese context; child maltreatment; childhood physical abuse; mental health; meta-analysis; psychiatric disorders