Shouting raises cancer risk among kids

PARENTS who smack or shout at their children place them at greater risk of health problems later in life - including cancer, new research has found.

Scientists say those who hit or raise their voices at youngsters expose them to the risk of developing cancer, heart disease and asthma. They claim only minor smacks and shouting can have the same long term health implications as serious abuse and trauma.

The report found use of ‘harsh punishments’ in childhood increases the risk of disease in later life. It says the link could be caused because smacking and shouting at children causes them stress. The increased stress levels then cause biological changes within an individual which can lead to serious health problems, the study found.

The study was carried out by psychologists from Plymouth University in Devon and published in the Journal of Behavioural Medicine.

Professor Michael Hyland, from the University’s School of Psychology, led the study.

He said: ‘Early life stress in the form of trauma and abuse is known to create long term changes that predispose to later disease. ‘But this study shows that in a society where corporal punishment is considered normal, the use of corporal punishment is sufficiently stressful to have the same kinds of long term impact as abuse and trauma.’