While some parents might use physical punishments, a study says it often has the opposite effect of its intention.
A study out of the University of Manitoba looking at 69 previous studies in nine countries from the past two decades has come to a conclusion: physical punishment harms children.
Dr. Joan Durrant, a University of Manitoba expert on violence against children and co-author of the published study says physical punishment "does not make children’s behaviour better.
"An ever-growing body of research consistently finds that physical punishment predicts a range of negative outcomes for children," Durrant says.
She says oftentimes physical punishment has a worsening effect, saying children who physically punished have increased aggression, antisocial behaviour and conduct problems as they get older.
“The growing consensus that hitting children is harmful and ineffective has led 62 countries to pass laws prohibiting physical punishment of children, and another 27 countries to commit to doing so.”
In Canada, physical punishment is not outlawed. Durrant believes policymakers do not understand the effects of this punishment. This is not uncommon worldwide, as 63 per cent of all children aged two-four years old are believed to be subject to physical punishment by their caregivers. These are normative punishments such as spanking and slapping. She says children who were physically punished are also at higher risk of severe maltreatment.
“This issue has profound implications for the health of societies, and it needs to rise to the top of the public health and justice agendas.”
Durrant is asking for physical punishment to ban physical punishment. She says in Sweden where this has been outlawed since 1979 there has been a drop.
"Many parents feel deep regret about striking and hurting their children,” she says. “They need and want access to programs that will help them regulate their own emotions and respond constructively to conflict with their children.