Parental physical discipline in childhood linked to behaviour problems in teen age

WASHINGTON - If parents use physical discipline on kids during their childhood, it could lead to behaviour problems in adolescence, concluded two new studies.

Researchers at Duke University, Oklahoma State University, the University of Pittsburgh, Auburn University, and Indiana University conducted the study to explore how discipline changes during childhood and adolescence, and what family factors affect those changes.

They used data collected in two longitudinal studies-one of almost 500 children who were followed from ages 5 to 16, the other of more than 250 children followed from ages 5 to 15.

They found that parents typically adjust the way they discipline their children in response to their children’s growing cognitive abilities, using less physical discipline (spanking, slapping, hitting with an object) over time.

As children grow older, physical discipline becomes less developmentally appropriate.

However, when parents’ use of physical discipline continues through childhood, by the time their children are teens, they’re more likely to have behaviour problems.

Teens of parents who stop using physical discipline when their children are young are less likely to have these behaviour problems.

“Given these findings, mental health specialists and others who work with families should encourage parents to refrain from using physical discipline. They should also help parents-especially mothers who are at high risk of using harsh physical discipline because they have children whose behavior is challenging or they are dealing with a lot of stress in their environment-come up with alternate strategies for disciplining their children,” said study leader Jennifer E. Lansford.

“Low income, low educational attainment, single parenthood, family stress, and living in a dangerous neighborhood form a constellation of risk that increases the chances that parents will continue to use physical discipline with their children. Parents are also more likely to continue using physical discipline with children who behave aggressively,” she added.

The study has been published in the latest issue of Child Development. (ANI)