Physical Punishment: Spanking Linked to Learning Difficulties, Behavioral Problems

Though many families no longer incorporate any instances of physical punishment into their disciplinary methods, a recent study shows that children who are spanked by their parents could be at a greater risk for behavioral problems and learning difficulties later in life.

According to lead study author Michael J. MacKenzie, Ph.D., an associate professor at the Columbia University School of Social Work in New York City, the study looked at how often parents spanked their children and how spanking appeared to impact children's behavior.

MacKenzie and colleagues interviewed 1,933 parents when their children were 3 years old and again when they were 5 in order to determine how often the children were spanked. While looking at a nationally representative sample, the researchers followed up when the children were 9 by using more than 50 questions to determine the child's aggressiveness and rule-breaking behaviors. They also looked at the effects of spanking on the 9-year-olds' by studying their receptive vocabulary skills.

MacKenzie notes that while they did not see behavioral development problems, they saw problems regarding cognitive development and the child's verbal capacity.

"These effects are long-lasting. They aren't just short-term problems that wash out over time. And the effects were stronger for those who were spanked more than twice a week," she said, via HealthDay.

However, results showed that spanking stands a common experience for many American children-with up to 57 percent of mothers and 40 percent of fathers stating that they had spanked their 3-year-olds; 52 percent of mothers and 33 percent of fathers reported using spanking to discipline their 5-year-old, and children 9 and up showed more aggression and scored lower on vocabulary tests if they had been spanked by parents frequently.

At this time, spanking is legal in all states, and though 23 countries banned the hitting of children thanks to the help of the United Nations, the United States is not one of them.

While all states prohibit the "abuse" of children, the line between spanking and physical abuse can sometimes get murky.

What do you think about forms about various disciplinary methods for children and should spanking be one of them?  

More information regarding the study can be found via the journal Pediatrics.