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Spanking Makes Children More Aggressive, Study Shows
Filed under: In The News, Research Reveals: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Research Reveals: Big Kids, Research Reveals: Tweens
A swat today could mean lots of timeouts later, new research shows. Credit: Corbis
If you think spanking a child makes him more belligerent, while your spouse believes it teaches discipline, you may just have the upper hand in the debate. A new study shows the link between corporal punishment and aggression is even stronger than previously thought, and the more you spank, the worse your child gets.
Researchers surveyed nearly 2,500 children in 20 large U.S. cities, and found those who were regularly spanked at age 3 were more likely to be aggressive 5-year-olds, according to an article in the May issue of Pediatrics. The researchers relied on mothers to report both their own spanking patterns and their children's behavior.
What makes this study different from the dozens of earlier reports showing a similar link is that the researchers accounted for other factors that could make a child more aggressive, such as physical and psychological abuse between parents and toward children, neglect, stress, substance abuse, depression and the consideration of abortion, lead author Catherine Taylor, assistant professor at Tulane's School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, tells ParentDish.
Even accounting for those factors, the researchers found children who were subjected to even minor forms of corporal punishment -- specifically, those who were spanked three times or more in the month prior to the survey at age 3 -- were 50 percent more likely to be bullies, get into fights, be destructive or disobedient, attack people or scream a lot at age 5, Taylor says.
Despite studies showing that spanking is counterproductive and the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendation against corporal punishment, most parents in the United States have used corporal punishment as a form of discipline. A 2005 poll showed 72 percent of adults thought it was OK to spank a child.
Taylor recommends that parents who want to find alternative ways of disciplining their children speak to their pediatrician or visit HealthyChildren.org and search "discipline" or "spanking."
Related: Spanking Lowers IQ, According to Study
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 20)
4-12-2010 @ 3:26PM
Ellen said...Spanking does not make children more aggressive!!!!
Spanking on the bottom is not corp punishment - for heavens sakes its been going on for generations. I was spanked as a child when I misbehaved. It made my bottom hurt a little but I learned that when I did wrong I would be spanked if it was warrented. I'm now in my 60's and didn't turn out wrong. Get real and go back to what really works
Reply
4-12-2010 @ 7:27PM
Melanie said...You can't teach an old dog new tricks. Thank goodness you're too old to have any children, and I hope you didn't.
4-13-2010 @ 8:36PM
dan said...Hell yes!
4-13-2010 @ 3:21PM
Bearfoot said...Ok, guys.. quoting a old text from a time when you were told to murder your wife for being unfaithful and "No it's ok!" please doesn't change one fact.
I know for a fact that it only leads to anger and stuff.. My father spanked me regulary, I hate my father.
I'm 34.. and it's caused riffs in our relationship like you wouldn't beleive.
4-13-2010 @ 2:56PM
Karl said...Spanking is the way to go! I got my butt beat all the time when I was a kid. I am 35 and turned out just fine. I currently have a one year old and when he gets older and acts up, he will get his butt beat also. My sister has Two kids. A 4 and 7 year old. They do Not get spanked when they do something wrong. The 7 year old talks like a drunken sailor and the 4 year old is following suit. I They are my nephews but I can't stand them. They are very disrespectful. When I am visiting and one calls me a nasty name, I smack him and then he is fine for the rest of the time I am there. If I just tell him to stop, he will do it again in a few minutes. Depending on the offense, the kid should be spanked on the butt, hand or cheek.
4-13-2010 @ 7:22PM
molovemomo2 said...I totally agree There are just some things that children Need everynow and then in between the Love and Logic Of life and that is good solid spanking just to remind them that there are consequences for your actions. Kids these days get away with so much and its because there is a huge lacking of discipline in the home and if there is it is not Consistent at all !!!
4-13-2010 @ 3:08PM
Kathy said...We were never spanked. We were raised with lots of love. And we were all well mannered and well behaved.
4-13-2010 @ 3:21PM
ron said...I agree with spanking. I think that's why this world is in the shape it's in now. No discipline, no pray in school, no one being held accountable. I say pray and spank your kids. Do what I did spank them and pray for them at the same time.
4-13-2010 @ 4:57PM
ledbre1954 said...I'm with you on that, Ellen! Aggression makes kids aggressive, not spanking! If my parents didn't spank me, I'm not sure if I would be here today. It's the LACK of spanking that has brought our kids to the point of disrespect for elders!
4-13-2010 @ 4:56PM
ledbre1954 said...I'm with you on that, Ellen!
4-13-2010 @ 4:44PM
jrock8 said...This is an extremely poorly designed study, and really amounts to a bunch of BS. While I do not condone spanking, I wish to draw conclusions from real research. "The researchers relied on mothers to report both their own spanking patterns and their children's behavior." Honestly, self-reporting behavior is the worst data to rely on. First, the mothers have to justify their behavior. Do you really think they'd say their children were good and that's why they spanked them? Second, maybe the aggression is more genetic than behavioral -- mom hits (aggression) child hits (genetic aggression). This can just as easily be drawn from the results of this study as can what the researchers stated. Let's draw conclusion from real research!
4-13-2010 @ 3:47PM
LARRY said...YOUR RIGHT ELLEN.
IM TIRED OF THESE IDIOTS SAYING ITS WRONG TO SPANK.
HAVE U NOTISED KIDS HAVE NO FEAR OF DOING WRONG.
THESE SO CALLED EXPERTS ARE NUTS.
LETS JUST TELL THEM ITS OKAY UR OKAY THAT WAY THEY
NERVER HAVE TO FEEL RESPONSABLE OR RESPECT FOR ANY ONE.
4-13-2010 @ 3:58PM
John S-B said...Exactly Ellen! My parents were divorced when I was around 4. I became unruly, and when mom remarried when I was 6, my stepfather didn't put up with my crap. We were poor, but my parents discipline AND love made me a success. My oldest daughter started being unruly at almost 3, and the pediatrician said get it taken care of now, because what you see a 2, you will see again at 12. My daughters now are more successful in their teens than I was (not completely perfect, a little sloppy) and I'm proud of their behavior. The oldest will be earning her gold badge in Girl Scouts next year, athlete, drill team, drama, choir and advanced courses, as a freshman in HS. Younger one in doing similar. And both got spanked when they deserved it, and loved always.
4-13-2010 @ 5:07PM
Melody said...I am a 55 yr old female. GIVE ME A BREAK!!!! This is what is wrong with the kids today!! My father spanked all 4 of his kids becaise we deserved it! Made us repect him for teaching us that the parent is in control, not the kid!! The kids today talk back to the parents and have NO respect for the parents at all these days. Parents need to get control of their kids today and the best way is SPANK THEM if they do not want to mind!! That is why God gave us the padding on the rear It usually hurts the parent more than the child but makes for better minded children.
4-13-2010 @ 3:59PM
Richard J said...Right on, a little hand to the rear doesn't hurt any child. Parents who cuddle their children will most often see kids get involved in bad behavior, drugs, alcohol and/or low paying and none existant careers as the child becomes an adult. Parents need to discipline there child and not leave it up to the teachers and law enforcement todo there jobs.
4-13-2010 @ 5:08PM
Melody said...DITTO Ellen!!! Parents need to be parents and stop allowing the child to be one wagging the tail! This is why kids tody have NO respect for their elders!! I feel sorry for teachers in the schools today!
4-13-2010 @ 4:10PM
MRS said...I have been a preschool teacher for 25 years, and while teachers are never allowed to spank a student, I believe as a parent spanking should be a last resort when you have exhausted all other options such as, reasoning, explaining consequences of bad behavior, loss of privilege, and time out. That being said, there are some children who don't respond to any of these methods and a spanking may be a parent's last option. For the record I am refering to a "crack" on the butt, not a beating or a whipping. This is where people mistake a spanking with a beating. Not the same thing at all. A spanking should leave no mark on a child.
4-13-2010 @ 4:17PM
cMOM said...My son is now 3 and he is very unruly and difficult. My husband spanks because he was spanked and believes it worked for him. I don't believe in spanking but it only makes my son angry. My son hits kids, throws fits when he doesn't get his way, doesn't let kids at preschool play with him or share his toys. The teachers tell me his bad behavior when i pick him up. It's very embarrassing that my son is so aggressive and always misbehaving. I believe it has alot to do with the spanking that my husband believes works. I try the love and logic approach but he's still very aggressive and mean.
4-13-2010 @ 4:38PM
chris said...I believe in spanking because that it actually teaches respect for the parent. I was spanked as a child and so were my children, they are respectful of me and I am of my parents. Do more for them in the high chair, there will be less in the electric chair.
4-13-2010 @ 4:25PM
Anne said...Melanie You can't teach an old dog new tricks. Thank goodness you're too old to have any children, and I hope idn't.
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Melanie I hope you don't have any children because they will be just as prejudiced as you. If you already have kids I'm sure they will be disrespectful believing that they can override any kind of respectable authority.