Spanking children fuels aggression

Children who are spanked when they misbehave are more likely to be anxious and aggressive than children who are disciplined in non-physical ways. This is true even if spanking is the cultural norm. Whether parents should spank their children or use other forms of physical discipline is controversial. Some experts argue that children should not be spanked when they act out citing evidence that it leads to more, rather than fewer, behaviour problems and it could escalate into physical abuse. Other experts, however, argue that the effects of spanking and physical discipline might depend on the characteristics of the child and family and the circumstances in which it is used. Researchers from the Center for Child and Family Policy at Duke University, USA, questioned 336 mothers and their children in China, India, Italy, Kenya, the Philippines and Thailand about cultural norms surrounding use of physical discipline and how it affected their children's behaviour. Across the six countries studied, children who were physically disciplined more frequently were more aggressive and anxious than were children who were physically disciplined less frequently. However, in countries where the use of physical discipline was more common, being physically disciplined more frequently was not related as strongly to aggression and anxiety as it was in countries where physical discipline was less frequently used. In Thailand, a country where peace-promoting Buddhist teachings predominant, mothers were least likely to spank their children or use other forms of physical discipline. In Kenya, on the other hand, where use of physical discipline is common and considered normal for the most part, mothers were most likely to spank or engage in similar disciplinary tactics. One question the findings raise is whether being physically disciplined more frequently causes an increase in aggression and anxiety or whether children who are already aggressive and anxious are simply physically disciplined more often? The answer is probably some of each. Another question is whether physical discipline is appropriate in this day and age, regardless of how accepted it may be.