Save the rod! Spanking leads to aggressive behavior warn experts

With regard to spanking, many West Indians think that if you spare the wand, you will ruin the child.

However, research shows that spanking makes children aggressive and can lead to mental health problems.

In a revised policy statement reiterating its opposition to corporal punishment, the American Academy of Pediatrics cited new evidence linking corporal punishment to an increased risk of negative behavioral, cognitive, psychosocial and emotional consequences in children . The policy also deals with the damages associated with verbal punishments, such as shame and humiliation.

In the report, corporal punishment is defined as "non-offensive and open strikes aimed at changing the behavior of a child".

The AAP recommends that parents do not spank, slap, slap, threaten, insult, humiliate or ashamed to punish their children.

"Research has shown that hitting, screaming or shaming children can elevate stress hormones and lead to changes in brain architecture. Severe verbal abuse is also related to the mental health problems of preadolescents and teens, "said AAP.

Pointing out that the spanking does not work, the AAP said that a 2014 study had shown that corporal punishment had transient effects: in 10 minutes, most children (73%) had resumed the same behavior for which they had been punished.

The AAP stated that the effects of spanking increased the risk of physical injury to children under 18 months of age, could lead to aggressive behavior and altercations between parents and children, and could have a negative impact on the parent-child relationship, were associated with an increase in preschool aggression school-aged children are no less likely than children to be aggressive and aggressive in the future and are associated with an increased risk of mental health disorders and cognitive disorders;

The report states that the risk of severe punishment increases when the family suffers stressors, such as economic problems for the family, mental health problems, intimate partner violence or substance abuse.

Instead, the organization recommends that adults reinforce appropriate behaviors, set boundaries, redirect children, and set expectations.

The policy, titled EEffective discipline to raise healthy children, will be published in the December issue of Pediatrics.