Children who are spanked when they misbehave are more likely to be anxious and aggressive than children who are disciplined in nonphysical ways, research shows. This is true even if spanking is the “cultural norm.”

One question the findings raise is whether being physically disciplined more frequently causes an increase in aggression and anxiety or whether children who are already aggressive and anxious are simply physically disciplined more often. On the basis of other work conducted in the United States, the answer is probably some of each.

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We try not to spank in our house, but there are times when time-outs and other types of punishments just do not seem to work. For us, spanking is definitely the punishment of last resort.