STUDY: SPANKING A TODDLER CAN TRIGGER BAD BEHAVIOR

A new study says spanking and other physical discipline techniques have adverse effects on children for far longer than originally thought.

Children spanked when they were as young as 15 months old displayed negative temperament and were less likely to show positive behaviors in the fifth grade and even into their teenage years, researchers at the University of Missouri said.

The finding was vastly more pronounced in African-Ameri- can children than those of European origin.

“How parents treat their children at a young age ... significantly impacts their behavior,” said Gustavo Carlo, a study coauthor who is a professor of diversity at the university and director of its center for family policy and research. “It is very important that parents refrain from physical punishment as it can have long-lasting impacts. If we want to nurture positive behaviors, all parents should teach a child how to regulate their behaviors early.”

Past research has indicated physical punishment can have negative consequences on children’s development, but previous studies examined only short-term impacts.

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