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Strict parenting linked to higher rate of depression in kids, researchers say

By Mallika Marshall, MD

October 20, 2022 / 5:33 PM EDT / CBS Boston

Strict parenting linked to higher rate of depression in kids

BOSTON – Parents may want to think twice about being too strict with their kids.

Researchers in Belgium compared two groups of teens ages 12-to-16.

One group reported good parenting, in other words, they said their parents were supportive and gave them autonomy.

The other group reported strict parenting, with physical punishment and psychological manipulation.

They found the teens who reported a harsh upbringing had chemical changes in their DNA which have been associated with depression.

It's not clear whether these kids will necessarily develop major depression later in life, but adverse childhood experiences often have life-long consequences for both mental and physical well-being.

Boston

Mallika Marshall, MD

Mallika Marshall, MD is an Emmy-award-winning journalist and physician who has served as the HealthWatch Reporter for CBS Boston/WBZ-TV for over 20 years. A practicing physician Board Certified in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Dr. Marshall serves on staff at Harvard Medical School and practices at Massachusetts General Hospital at the MGH Chelsea Urgent Care and the MGH Revere Health Center, where she is currently working on the frontlines caring for patients with COVID-19. She is also a host and contributing editor for Harvard Health Publications (HHP), the publishing division of Harvard Medical School.

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