Study Ties Physical Punishment to Anxiety and Aggression in Children

October 25, 2026 - 21:40

A child breaks a rule, refuses to listen or throws a tantrum. For some parents, a slap or spanking may seem like a quick way to teach obedience. But a long-running study suggests that this approach may do more harm than good.

Researchers followed about 4,500 families in nine countries over 15 years, tracking how often parents used physical punishment and how their children behaved and felt as they grew. The findings, published in a leading medical journal, show that children who experienced more frequent physical punishment tended to show higher levels of anxiety and aggression than their peers.

The results challenge a familiar belief that a smack now and then is a harmless or even necessary part of discipline. According to the researchers, the pattern held across different cultures and income levels, which makes it harder to dismiss the link as a coincidence.

The study adds to a growing body of evidence that physical punishment can affect children's emotional and social development over the long term. The authors suggest that parents and caregivers may benefit from alternative strategies, such as setting clear rules, using calm consequences and rewarding positive behavior, rather than relying on physical force.

For families, the message is straightforward: how discipline is delivered matters as much as what parents are trying to teach.