Mothers Who Spank More Likely to Have Aggressive Tots, Study Finds

ABC News ^ | 04/12/2010 | By COURTNEY HUTCHISON

[Responsibility2nd]

Spanking toddlersmakes for more aggressive kindergartners, according to a new study from Tulane University in New Orleans.

Research finds spanking has long-term negative effects on children's behavior.While organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Center for Effective Discipline staunchly advocate against corporal punishment, many parents continue to turn to the rod when disciplining their children.

In a 2005 online poll, 72 percent of adults reported that it was "OK to spank a child." Various studies in recent years found the prevalence of corporal punishment varied widely, from 35 percent of parents to 90 percent, authors of the Tulane study note.

In the new study, published Monday in the journal Pediatrics, researchers found that of 2,500 mothers surveyed across the country, 46 percent reported no spanking in the last month, 28 percent said they spanked one to two times, and 26 percent reported spanking more than twice.

Three-year-old children of mothers who used spanking more frequently were significantly more likely to have aggressive kids later on down the road, the Tulane researchers found.

[PeterPrinciple]

Even if spanking results in (slightly) more aggressive children,

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Does spanking cause aggressive children or does aggressive children cause spanking?

[ctdonath2]

IMHO, Those not so disciplined were not more aggressive, but instead just ignored others and did whatever they darned well felt like - leading to much bigger social problems.

[twister881]

Yes, in his “mom jeans!” ;~D

[tet68]

Direct quote from article:

“Three-year-old children of mothers who used spanking more frequently were significantly more likely to have aggressive kids later on down the road, the Tulane researchers found.”

So it’s hereditary? Passed down to the grand children?
I find this hard to accept.

[TNdandelion]

"Three-year-old children of mothers who used spanking more frequently were significantly more likely to have aggressive kids later on down the road, the Tulane researchers found."

I completely agree. I have two people in my personal life that really don't know what they are doing with regards to disciplining their children. They spank them constantly...usually after setting the kids up for failure or in response to their own personal frustration. I won't let my children be around one child because she is hateful and hits my youngest and the other child is completely out of control and I predict will be on meds within the year.

I'm not anti-spanking, but there are limits to its use. Discipline is so much more than smacking a kid when he pisses you off.

[ladyjane]

Prior to Benjamin Spock, the US was inundated with violent, feral children? And since the idea that spanking is bad took hold, we have progressed into a happy society where all children are polite and well-behaved -- because they have never been spanked?

Great reply.

Low IQ reporters and social scientists with an agenda want us to believe their studies show a causal relationship, i.e., spanking causes aggression. Their studies show no such thing.

[TexasFreeper2009]

or maybe... agressive tots are more likely to get spanked?

lol

who pays for these idiots studies.

[TNdandelion]

When I read the article, it did differentiate between parents that spank occasionally and those that spank often. It also took into account other factors such as neglect, stress, etc.

[Pietro]

I think eveyone is missing the point here:

Under Obamacare, the state has a stake in your child; he/she is their property.

Expect fines and other disciplinary actions for parents that buck the received wisdom.

This is not a joke.

[dalereed]

Better agressive than a passive usless bolb of blubber!!

[vpintheak]

What a complete crock of crap. Give me 1 week with those kids and there would be little to no problems at home or at school.

[dalereed]

“Prior to Benjamin Spock, the US was inundated with violent, feral children? “

Thanks, I grew up before that jerk!

Before he died he admited he was wrong and ruined generations of childern.

[greatplains]

Two-and-a-half men?

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

Bullshit.

[jimt]

BS.

I had to spank my daughter exactly ONCE. At approximately 18 months, she began kicking me in the stomach while changing her diaper. I told her "Stop that ! That hurts !". She laughed - and kicked me again. I said "If you do that again, I'm going to spank you." She laughed, and kicked me again - harder.

I hauled her off the bed and proceeded to spank - hard enough to insure plenty of tears.

Guess what ? She never needed another lesson. Sweet reason worked after that. It was the anithesis of injury - it was salutary. She was a much happier child because of it.

Ineffectual swats and finger shaking, along with screaming and time-outs, etc., are stupid. A few good hard whacks eliminates much future unhappiness.

[jimt]

What happens when it’s the FATHERS who spank the tots?

See my #95. What happens ? It's effective and ends bad behavior.

[jimt]

anithesis = antithesis

Sheesh.

[ThisLittleLightofMine]

Hogwash to this article, but on a side note. My husband administers the spanking in our home.

[rlmorel]

Hey.

It is academia...anything goes there. They just make it up as they go along, I stopped paying attention to their crap a long time ago...

Sheesh. Listen to me. that is a hell of a blanket statement, but that is how I feel about this crap. After delving into this global warming junk, and seeing the way they have twisted research to get funding, and seeing how that twisting of research to get funding may affect ME and my country, I want to tar and feather the whole lot of them.