Corporal punishment and the growth trajectory of children’s antisocial behavior

Grogan-kaylor, Andrew
Child Maltreatment. Vol 10, Issue 3, 2005. pp. 283-292
"Despite considerable research, the relationship between corporal punishment and anti-social behaviour is unclear. This analysis examined (a) the functional form of this relationship, (b) the correlation of initial anti-social behaviour and changes in anti-social behaviour, (c) differences in the relationship of corporal punishment and anti-social behaviour by race, and (d) whether this relationship could be accounted for by unmeasured characteristics of children and their families. Findings suggested that corporal punishment has a relationship with children’s initial anti-social behaviour and with changes in anti-social behaviour. No evidence was found for differences in the effect of corporal punishment across racial groups. The findings suggest that corporal punishment is not a preferable technique for disciplining children." (Full text available from CSA.)