Smacking could lead to mental disorders

Smacking children may lead to a higher risk of adult mental health issues, according to a new study published in the latest issue of the journal Pediatrics. Researchers have discovered that up to 7% of mental disorders - ranging from anxiety problems to alcohol abuse - were associated with such punishment. According to the lead author of the study Tracie Afifi, assistant professor of epidemiology in the Department of Community Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba, Canada, "There is a significant link between the two. Individuals who are physically punished have an increased likelihood of having mental health disorders."