Spanking Associated with Child Aggression and Anxiety

No matter what the cultural norm, children who are disciplined with spanking and other physical approaches are more likely to be anxious and aggressive than children who are disciplined in other ways, according to a study in the November/December issue of Child Development.

Jennifer E. Lansford from Duke University and a team of 14 co-researchers questioned 336 mothers and their children in China, India, Italy, Kenya, the Philippines, and Thailand about cultural norms surrounding the use of physical discipline and how it affects children’s aggression and anxiety.

In all countries, higher use of physical discipline was associated with more child aggression and anxiety.