“Parenting is hard, and most parents are doing the best they can with the tools they were given,” Dr. Isha Mannering told the NY Post, highlighting how cultural normalization and stress drive the continued use of corporal punishment.
As discussions on child-rearing and behavioral correction continue to evolve, pediatric experts are drawing fresh attention to the long-term clinical and psychological consequences of spanking children. “While it may result in compliance in the moment, it does so through fear rather than teaching the deeper skills children actually need, like self-regulation or sound judgment,” pediatrician and parenting expert Dr. Isha Mannering told the NY Post.
Recent data indicates that 15% of parents still consider spanking “necessary” for raising a child. A 2026 study revealed that a large demographic of Gen Z and millennial parents continue to utilize physical punishment, frequently echoing the familiar rationalization that they were spanked themselves and experienced no lasting harm.
“Many were spanked as children and sincerely believe it is the right way to teach, correct, or keep a child safe,” Dr. Isha Mannering, a pediatrician and parenting expert, told the NY Post.
Experts explain that parents under high stress often mistake the fearful silence following a physical strike for genuine behavioral progress. In clinical reality, children respond to physical force by attempting to avoid subsequent punishment rather than grasping why a specific action was wrong or learning how to repair the situation constructively.
In Plain English: The Clinical Takeaway
- Behavioral Escalation: Longitudinal data shows that physical punishment increases the likelihood of future aggression, aggression toward peers, and disruptive actions in young children.
- Attachment Disruption: When a primary caregiver acts as a source of physical pain, it creates an insecure attachment style that can impair adult romantic relationships.
Longitudinal Studies Connect Childhood Spanking to Adult Violence
Developmental research consistently demonstrates that physical discipline alters behavioral trajectories over time. A 2021 review established that physical punishment is reliably associated with worsening behavioral problems across childhood, regardless of whether parents simultaneously employed positive parenting strategies.
Furthermore, a 2021 study showed that children who experienced spanking at age three displayed significantly higher rates of disruptive and violent behavior by age five. Observed actions included destroying personal belongings, displaying cruelty toward authority figures and peers, and physically attacking others.
“Physical disciplinary measures can normalize physical force as a response to frustration or conflict,” Mannering told the NY Post. This learned association can manifest in adulthood, as supported by a 2017 study indicating that individuals who were spanked as children face a higher probability of becoming violent toward romantic partners later in life.
| Research Focus | Key Clinical Finding | Associated Publication |
|---|---|---|
| Early Childhood Spanking | Increased disruptive and violent behaviors observed by age 5 after spanking at age 3. | Springer (2026 / 2021 Data) |
| Parent-Child Bonding | Undermines secure attachment, increasing risks of adult romantic instability and loner tendencies. | ScienceDirect (2020 Study) |
| Long-Term Behavioral Impact | Consistent association with escalating behavioral problems regardless of positive parenting use. | The Lancet (2021 Review) |
Legal Frameworks and Parental Views on Corporal Punishment Vary
Legislative frameworks surrounding physical discipline vary dramatically around the world. At least 69 countries have legally banned all forms of corporal punishment for children. In contrast, spanking remains legal across all 50 US states, with 15 states maintaining laws that permit corporal punishment within school environments.
Despite the persistence of legal allowances, Mannering told the NY Post that the practice is gradually declining. This shift is driven by a broader cultural emphasis on emotional health and an increasing parental awareness of the long-term psychological fallout associated with physical discipline.
“More parents are asking, ‘What is this teaching my child over time?’ rather than simply, ‘Did this stop the behavior?’” Mannering told the NY Post.
References
- Springer: Recent research on corporal punishment trends and parental beliefs
- ScienceDirect: Study on physical discipline and the parent-child bond
- The Lancet: Review on physical punishment and long-term behavioral problems
