A new study has found that harsh parenting can lead to smaller brain structures in children, which can even be detected through X-ray images. While it is well-known that frequent shouting, hitting, or shaking can have serious consequences for a child’s development, this study shows that it can also affect the brain’s structure. The study, published in the Development and Psychology journal of Cambridge University, found that children who experienced harsh parenting had smaller brain regions than their peers who did not.
The study followed several children from birth in the early 2000s until they reached adolescence. The children were evaluated annually for anxiety levels and developmental disorders, while their parents’ parenting methods were also assessed. The children were divided into two groups based on whether they experienced strict or relaxed parenting. Between the ages of 12 and 16, the adolescents underwent extensive examinations, including multiple MRI scans, to determine the link between harsh parenting and smaller brain regions.
Previous studies have contributed to a shift in parenting methods from violence to communication over the past few decades. While spanking was once a common practice in many families in the 70s and 80s, public perception has changed significantly in recent decades. In Germany, for example, a law was passed in 1973 prohibiting teachers from using physical force on students. This law has influenced many private households as well. The researchers hope that this new study will further reduce violence against children and prevent burnouts and depression in adulthood.
The study also found that young adults who experienced sexual, psychological, or emotional abuse as children had smaller prefrontal cortexes and amygdalas, which play a crucial role in regulating emotions and the onset of anxiety disorders or depression. Even those who experienced only harsh parenting had smaller brain regions than their peers. The study’s findings emphasize the importance of positive parenting methods and the potential long-term effects of harsh parenting on a child’s brain development.
