The results of a study by researchers at Auburn, Duke and Oklahoma State said being physically disciplined at a young age can lead to behavioral problems as an adolescent.
"Most American parents use physical discipline at some point in their parenting history, but increasingly there are concerns about long-term implications for children of parents who use physical discipline and concerns about where to draw the line between physical discipline and physical abuse," said Jennifer Lansford, study leader and associate research professor at Duke University.
The researchers first began studying a sample in 1987, when the children in the study were 5 years old. Those children were tracked until they were 16.
This sample ranged from low-income to high-income families, and it was reported the income level had no impact on the differences of physical discipline.
They also conducted a second study where they assessed the level of discipline low-income children ages 10 to 15 received and how that affected their behavior.
The research team conducted annual interviews and assessments with the kids, so each year every child was reevaluated and their behavior problems and discipline were measured, Lansford said.
Over time the study measured how parents disciplined their children based on whether the methods used were mild or harsh.
Harsh discipline was defined as using an object to discipline the child, Lansford said.
"I remember when I was younger it only took one time to correct my behavior," said Kimberly Calogne, a sophomore in chemical engineering. "I think that if parents say their child will get a spanking for acting up it is important they follow through, so the child doesn't think they can get away with it."
The study also looked at precursors or predictors of parents' use of physical discipline and force and then outcomes associated with the use of the different forms of discipline.
"Most professors and studies seem to prove that physical discipline is detrimental, but I don't agree 100 percent," said Jessica Scott, a junior in human development and family studies. "I think it all depends on how the parents respond to the child's behavior and the degree of spanking."
In the groups were parents who did not use physical discipline at all and noticed fewer behavior problems when their children were in adolescence than those who used even mild levels of physical discipline and stopped.
"There are many other aspects of parenting that are important to parent-child relationships," Lansford said.
Other important facets of parents' relationships with their children include a parent's warmth, acceptance, monitoring and supervision, especially in adolescents, Lansford said.
Experiences with peers, neighborhood, media and school settings are also a factor that lead to behavior problems.
"Kids who are hanging around with kids who get in trouble are more likely to get in trouble themselves," Lansford said.
Regarding parents who did use physical discipline, those who stopped physically disciplining their children by the time the children turned nine had notably better outcomes than those who continued past the age of nine.
"On the basis of our findings, even some physical discipline had worse longer term outcome than no physical discipline," Lansford said.
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