Fatigue, pain interference, and psychiatric morbidity in..., PLOS ONE , 2023.
Look for peer-reviewed studies that investigate the link between physical trauma (such as from spanking) and autoimmune diseases. Major medical databases like PubMed can be a good starting point.
The Emergence of Spanking Among a Representative Sample of Children Under 2 Years of Age in North Carolina, ResearchGate , 2011. spanking lupus link
Alternatively, a fantasy or sci-fi angle: maybe in a dystopian world, a ritual or punishment (spanking) is linked to causing or curing a lupus-like disease. That could allow for allegorical storytelling about disease, punishment, and societal structures.
: Early life trauma accelerates the baseline production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, specifically Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF- Fatigue, pain interference, and psychiatric morbidity in
The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis regulates the body's response to stress by releasing cortisol. Cortisol is a primary hormone responsible for suppressing inflammation. When a child experiences chronic fear, threat, or physical pain from harsh punishment, the HPA axis is repeatedly forced into high alert.
Furthermore, correlation is not causation. Many factors cluster together: families who spank severely may also have high rates of parental depression, alcohol abuse, or neglect—any of which independently raise autoimmune risk. The Emergence of Spanking Among a Representative Sample
There is no scientific evidence that spanking directly causes lupus. However, researchers are increasingly studying how chronic stress, trauma, and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can influence the immune system and potentially trigger autoimmune conditions in genetically predisposed individuals.
ACR Study: Childhood Abuse Increases the Risk of Lupus in Women
