Reviews of the literature have indicated that physical punishment is related to higher levels of aggression, delinquency, and internalizing conditions in addition to lower levels of internalizing morals and overall mental health.
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[SUP]26[/SUP] There is some evidence that physical punishment is also associated with immediate compliance.
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[SUP]25[/SUP] Many studies have found a link between physical punishment and poor child and adolescent social, emotional, cognitive, developmental, and behavioral problems or impairment.
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[SUP]33[/SUP] There is also evidence for an association between physical punishment and poor adult mental health outcomes. For example, physical punishment has been associated with depressive symptoms in US college samples.
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[SUP]36[/SUP] Results from a US community survey indicated that physical punishment in the teenage years significantly increased the likelihood of depression, suicidal thoughts, and alcohol abuse in adulthood.
[SUP]2[/SUP] Similarly, 2 other studies involving representative adult samples found that physical punishment was associated with adult depression,
[SUP]5[/SUP] anxiety disorders,
[SUP]19[/SUP] alcohol abuse/dependence,
[SUP]5[/SUP][SUP],[/SUP]
[SUP]19[/SUP] and externalizing problems
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[SUP]19[/SUP] independent of the effects of child physical or sexual abuse.