Although some parents swear by spanking as an effective discipline method, researchers from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor conducted a study that found that parents who use corporal punishment may see their children's behavior getting worse, not better.
In this study, 1,943 mothers answered detailed questions about the behavior of their 4- to 14-year-old children. They noted how often their children experienced anxiety, depression, problems getting along with peers, and hyperactivity. The mothers also described how they disciplined their children and how many times they had spanked their children within the last week. During interviews with moms, the study researchers noted whether mothers seemed to support their children emotionally, such as whether they talked to them in a supportive manner. When conducting the study, the researchers also examined neighborhood safety, since previous research has indicated that using corporal punishment in unsafe neighborhoods may actually protect kids from dangerous behaviors.
The findings of this study suggest that spanking doesn't improve kids' behavior - in fact, the use of corporal punishment tended to increase externalizing behaviors such as children's inability to get along with peers, hyperactivity, and antisocial behavior. In addition, children in all types of neighborhoods experienced an increase in these behaviors if their parents spanked them. However, spanking did not increase a child's risk for depression or anxiety.
What This Means to You: This research suggests that corporal punishment doesn't improve kids' behavior and may even contribute to worse externalizing behavior problems. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises parents to find ways other than spanking to discipline their children. Here are a few discipline strategies suggested by the AAP:
- Show your child natural consequences. For example, if your child spills his or her milk on purpose, explain that he or she will not have milk to drink.
- Withhold your child's privileges. Tell your child that if he or she does not cooperate, he or she will have to give something up he or she likes, such as TV or computer time.
- Practice time-outs. Time-outs give your child a break in the bad behavior. Choose a boring spot with no distractions. The AAP suggests that a child spend 1 minute in time-out for every year of age (for example, a 2-year-old would spend 2 minutes in time-out).
Source: Andrew Grogan-Kaylor, PhD; Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, October 2005
Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: November 2005
