EXPERIENCES OF CORPORAL PUNISHMENT AND ANXIETY AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN ALBANIA

Abstract

Objectives. This study aims to examine the influence of corporal punishment (CP) on the occurrence of anxiety during adolescence. Specifically, it investigates the prevalence of resilient survivors who do not exhibit clinical levels of anxiety symptoms after severe maltreatment. Materials and methods. A total of 191 adolescents (94 females and 97 males) with an average age of 14.37 (standard deviation = 0.68) from the Tirana region were included in the study. Participants completed the "Brief Physical Punishment Scale" and the "Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A)." Statistical analyses, including descriptive statistics, the T-test, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression using SPSS 25, were conducted to examine the relationship between corporal punishment and anxiety symptoms in adolescents. Results. The findings indicate that adolescents who experienced persistent CP had higher levels of anxiety. The severity of CP was positively correlated with increased anxiety symptoms in both the somatic and psychological dimensions. Gender differences were observed, with females (M = 12.87, SD = 10.42) demonstrating higher overall anxiety levels compared to males (M = 5.73, SD = 8.97), suggesting that females may be more susceptible to experiencing elevated anxiety resulting from CP. Conclusions The study reveals that CP has a detrimental impact on a child's well-being, with a significant association between CP and increased anxiety symptoms during adolescence. The consequences of childhood CP extend into adolescence, indicating that it is a persistent risk factor for anxiety. Furthermore, females appear to be more vulnerable to anxiety resulting from childhood CP, although males also experience some level of anxiety.