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(Ivanhoe Newswire) Everyone knows raising kids isn't easy, but researchers say there's new evidence that spanking impacts a child's development.
The study explores the effects of low-income mothers parenting techniques on children between one and three years old. Researchers interviewed over 2,500 parents at or below the federal poverty level, and examined their behaviors at home. Spanking one-year-olds leads to future aggressive behavior and lower cognitive development during ages two and three, according to the study.
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White, African American and Mexican American families were analyzed. African Americans spank their children significantly more than the other cultures. Researchers suggest this is due to their cultural beliefs for children to respect their elders. Several African American mothers explained their actions, saying that spanking prepares their children for the harsh and dangerous world.
An alternative to spanking, verbal punishment alone did not affect a childs aggression or cognitive skills. However, when paired with a mothers emotional support, verbal reprimand leads to increased cognitive ability, according to researchers.
SOURCE: Child Development, September/October 2009
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