If you spend time in lupus support groups (r/lupus on Reddit, LupusChat on Twitter, or the Lupus Foundation of America forums), you will notice a recurring, unsolicited theme: childhood adversity.
We rely on retrospective studies, where adults recall childhood punishment. These are subject to recall bias. However, recent prospective studies (which follow children forward in time) do show that spanking predicts higher cortisol and inflammatory markers in adolescence. spanking lupus link
This study on Wiley Online Library assessed ACE levels in SLE patients and found that childhood trauma is linked to worse patient-reported disease activity and depression. If you spend time in lupus support groups
: Broad research published in PMC indicates that childhood trauma, which can include severe corporal punishment or physical abuse, is linked to a higher risk of developing chronic health conditions, including autoimmune diseases like Lupus. including autoimmune diseases like Lupus.