Study: Many depressed dads spank their kids

By Staff Writer

A new study reveals that depressed fathers are four times more likely to spank their children. In addition, dads who suffer from the mental disorder are less likely to read to their kids.

The report, which will appear in the April edition of the journal Pediatrics, was conducted by University of Michigan Health System researchers. They studied surveys from 1,746 fathers of 1-year-old children.

Researchers found that 41 percent of dads with depression had hit their child in the last month, which was significantly higher than the rate among fathers without the condition. Approximately 41 percent of respondents said that they read to their child at least three times a week, compared to 58 percent of dads who did not have depression.

Although the effects of mothers' depression on parenting have been proven in past studies, this report is one of the first to examine its impact on fathers. The authors suggested that depressed men should seek medical treatment because their behaviors may have negative long-term effects on their kin.

Adolescents who are neglected or abused by their family or peers may benefit from boarding schools, which provide a safe environment that aims to help troubled teens.