Association between maternal depressive symptoms and physical punishment of children under five by sex: a secondary analysis of a national study in Peru Asociación entre los síntomas depresivos de la madre con el castigo físico hacia los hijos menores de cinco años según sexo: análisis secundario de un estudio nacional en Perú

Abstract

There is limited evidence regarding the relationship between mothers' depressive symptoms and the physical punishment of their children. This study aimed to evaluate the association between mothers' depressive symptoms and physical punishment of children under five years in Peru, using secondary data from the 2021 and 2022 Demographic and Family Health Surveys. Generalized linear models with the Poisson family and log link function were employed. The models were adjusted for child sex and other sociodemographic variables. The results were reported as prevalence ratios (PR). An association was found between moderate to severe depressive symptoms in mothers and the use of physical punishment on children of either sex (PRa = 1.24; 95 % CI = 1.08–1.43, p = 0.002). Additionally, the prevalence of physical punishment was higher in girls whose mothers exhibited moderate to severe depressive symptoms compared to girls whose mothers did not (APR = 1.46; 95 % CI = 1.19–1.79, p < 0.001). This prevalence was not observed in boys (APR = 1.10; 95 % CI = 0.91–1.32; p = 0.337). These findings underscore the need to strengthen mental health policies in Peru to foster a healthier home environment, benefiting both mothers and their children.