Physical punishment is associated with a range of mental health problems in children, youth and
adults, including depression, unhappiness, anxiety, feelings of hopelessness, use of drugs and
alcohol, and general psychological maladjustment.26 — 29 These relationships may be mediated by disruptions in parent — child attachment resulting from pain inflicted by a caregiver, 30,31 by increased levels of cortisol32 or by chemical disruption of the brain's mechanism for regulating stress.33 Researchers are also finding that physical punishment is linked to slower cognitive development and adversely affects academic achievement.34 These findings come from large longitudinal studies that control for a wide range of potential confounders.35 Intriguing results are now
emerging from neuroimaging studies, which suggest that physical punishment may reduce the volume of the brain's grey matter in areas associated with performance on the Wechsler
Adult Intelligence Scale, third edition (WAIS - III).36 In addition, physical punishment can cause alterations in the dopaminergic regions associated with vulnerability to the abuse of drugs and
alcohol.37
This study (NIDA #R01 DA041425 - 01) will evaluate the effectiveness of comprehensive treatment for justice - involved
emerging adults with
alcohol and other drug (AOD) abuse, as well as examining the mechanism of action for such treatments.
MST - EA NIDA will test a treatment for serious antisocial behavior (i.e., criminal offending) and co-occurring
alcohol and other drug (AOD) abuse in
emerging adults (EAs).
The
Adults in the Making program: Long - term protective stabilizing effects on alcohol use and substance use problems for rural African American emerging
Adults in the Making program: Long - term protective stabilizing effects on
alcohol use and substance use problems for rural African American
emerging adultsadults