It's diffcult to define abuse in that sense, certainly legally in the UK that is, caning is classed as assault and the parent could be prosecuted; so in that sense it is 'abuse'. If you choose to see it as the disciplining act of a loving father then I guess it isn't. I suppose it's how you interpretted it that counts the most.

I have certainly never been abused and had a healthy upbringing as far as I can tell. I have met several people who harmed themselves (more of an obsessive behaviour than because it turned them on though) who had been quite seriously abused as children though.