Corporal punishment causes long-term damage to children

Unsocial, aggressive, mentally ill: flogging has long-term effects
Although most parents know that they should not beat their children, unfortunately, some people slip their hands every now and then. Research shows that physical disciplinary action can leave serious, long-term harm to children. They tend to be more anti-social, aggressive and mentally ill.

Far too many parents beat their children
Although most fathers and mothers know that they should not beat their children, many of them often shake hands. A 2014 UNICEF report estimates that around 80 percent of parents worldwide beat their children. When adults are asked why they slap their offspring, they often give answers such as "My child is just difficult." Even the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, is not against beating children as long as their dignity is respected. However, experts know better: physical disciplinary measures have long-term consequences. Among other things, beaten children are more aggressive and unsocial.

It is estimated that around 80 percent of parents worldwide beat their children. Physical disciplinary action can leave serious, long-term damage. (Image: Herby (Herbert) Me / fotolia.com)

Beating left long-term damage
So had US scientists around Professor Michael MacKenzie of the Columbia University School of Social Work reported a few years ago on the evaluation of data from the "Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study", which often leads to a dramatic vicious circle: hitting children makes aggressive and aggressive children are beaten more often. The Professional Association of Paediatricians (BVKJ) now reports on its website "kinderaerzte-im-netz.de" about a study that came to the conclusion that physical punishment leaves long-term damage to children. The five-decade survey, which evaluated data from over 160,000 children, was published in the journal "Journal of Family Psychology." For this, the researchers have evaluated several papers that dealt with flogging.

Children do not become obedient by beatings
The experts found that children who received repeated beatings tended to be defiant, antisocial, aggressive and mentally ill, and often opposed their parents. In addition, the mental abilities of the children seemed to be partially impaired. According to researchers from the University of Austin, Texas, and the University of Michigan, this publication is still the most comprehensive on flogging. Study author Professor Elizabeth Gershoff said in a press release, "Our analysis focused on what most Americans would call beating and not on potentially abusive behaviors." Parents were shocked with the opposite of what they wanted. The children did not become obedient. According to the authors, the study authors defined beatings as hand blows, for example on the buttocks or on the arms or legs. (Ad)