"Unfortunately for parents who hit, our research found clear and compelling evidence that physical punishment does not improve children's behavior and instead makes it worse." Some studies in the review found mixed results, seeing some positive and negative effects associated with physical punishment. Seven of the studies Gershoff and her team reviewed examined the association between the frequency of physical punishment and a child's negative behavior over time. "In other words, as physical punishment increased in frequency, so did its likelihood of predicting worse outcomes over time," she said. Some 50% of parents reported spanking a child in 1993, but by 2017 that number was down to 35%, the study found.

Source: CNN June 28, 2021 22:30 UTC