Thursday May 28, 2009
Parents who abuse kids need help, say experts
PETALING JAYA: Parents who abuse their children are in need of help, according to psychiatrists.
A child and adolescent psychiatrist said one in three parents who grow up in a physically abusive environment tends to be abusive towards his or her children,
Dr Toh Chin Lee said those who were abused as a child often used the same cruel methods in disciplining their children.
“Even though they had suffered abuses, they become abusive parents because that’s the only way they knew how to deal with children,” he said.
He said those who grew up in an authoritarian environment were unable to resolve the issues they faced and thus vent their frustrations on the young ones.
“Their anger is displaced and when a child makes a minor mistake, they hit him,” he said, adding that single parents were more vulnerable.
However, two-thirds of parents do learn other ways of disciplining their children, whether through exposure to other role models or by learning them on their own, he said.
“Some parents argue that they hit their children because they are trying to teach their children well but if they are honest, they will admit that they are venting their anger,” he said.
Parents often choose physical punishment over the non-physical method because it is faster and easier.
“Teaching a child involves a lot of patience and effort,” Dr Toh said, adding that parents who consistently hit their children need help.
A clinical psychologist specialising in children, Dr Teoh Hsien Jin, said that parents hit their children when they were frustrated with them did not know effective parenting methods.
Parents must learn parenting skills either through courses, books or by seeing a clinical psychologist, he said.
News Poll
- Man posted doctored photos of Nik Aziz
- Heartbreaking wait for mum
- Sodomy II: Karpal claims judge lied (Updated)
- The world just got bigger
- Opposition leaders decry court’s ruling
- Thumbs-up for Najib
- Weather warning for Perak, Selangor and Sabah
- 5-0 for BN’s Zambry
- Saiful files report over death threat
- WWF: Orang asli being used
- 60 lose RM25mil in gold investment scam
- Canberra to set new skills list
- Sodomy II: Karpal claims judge lied (Updated)
- MAS offers CNY bargains
- Fleet card cloning ring busted with arrest of trio
- WWF: Orang asli being used
- Vietnamese plumber fined RM10,000 over RM75 bribe
- ‘Flashing candy’ a health hazard: Health Ministry
- Toyota puts the brakes on problem
- Manila joins hunt for Semporna gunmen
RSS
