Researchers looked at people who were pushed, grabbed, shoved, slapped and hit as children — a step milder than “punching, burning, physical neglect or sexual abuse,” according to this post by Time.com reporter Bonnie Rochman. The results were grim: depression and anxiety were 1.4 times greater than those who did not experience the “mild” abuse; alcoholism increased 1.6 times and abuse of other drugs 1.5 times.

What qualifies as appropriate punishment is a hot-button topic among parents. The American Academy of Pediatrics opposes corporal

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