A new study published in the Canadian Journal of Public Health finds that about 20% of Gen Z and millennial parents have used spanking as punishment, despite clear medical consensus on its detrimental long-term effects. Experts explain how physical discipline can normalize violence and lead to aggression in children, and they offer strategies for breaking intergenerational cycles.
A recent study published in the Canadian Journal of Public Health has revealed that a significant portion of Gen Z and millennial parents continue to use spanking as a form of discipline.
Surveying 4,000 adults, researchers found that approximately 20% of these younger parents admitted to having spanked their children at least once. While this marks a decline compared to older generations, the persistence of the practice raises concerns among experts. Dr. Isha Mannering, a prominent voice in child development, emphasizes that while spanking may produce immediate compliance through fear, it fails to teach essential skills like self-regulation and sound judgment.
The research underscores that physical discipline can have serious long-term consequences, including an increased likelihood of externalizing behaviors such as aggression and property destruction by age 5, as well as a higher risk of perpetrating domestic violence in adulthood. Both the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have unequivocally condemned spanking, defining it as any application of physical force intended to cause pain or discomfort.
The AAP's 2018 policy explicitly abolished the practice, citing evidence that it is not only unnecessary but potentially harmful. Dr. Mannering notes that the medical community is unified in its stance because data consistently shows physical punishment is no more effective than non-physical methods and carries greater risks. The study also highlights an intergenerational cycle: 55.6% of surveyed parents reported being spanked three or more times in their own childhoods, and 40.2% experienced it zero to two times.
This history appears to influence current behavior, yet Mannering asserts that Gen Z and millennial parents who were spanked can break the pattern by consciously rewiring their instinctual responses. She suggests that recognizing the impulse and replacing physical reactions with calm, consistent discipline can foster healthier outcomes. At least 69 countries, starting with Sweden in 1979, have legally banned all corporal punishment of children, reflecting a global shift.
Despite this, the research indicates that in the surveyed population, about 15% still believe spanking is necessary for proper child-rearing. The findings call for increased education and support for parents to adopt evidence-based, non-violent discipline strategies that promote children's long-term well-being and societal health
Spanking Corporal Punishment Gen Z Parents Millennial Parents Child Discipline American Academy Of Pediatrics WHO Long-Term Consequences Non-Physical Discipline Intergenerational Cycle
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