... Link Between Abusive Child-Rearing, Overly Aggressive Behavior

From time to time questions come up on the issue of the use of spanking
and research concerning out comes, both positive and negative.

I am still looking for positive correlations in research supporting the
use of spanking.

Anyone?

Here is yet, as is so often demanded, one not so supportive of spanking
and rather non-supportive in fact.

And it nicely highlights my old request for clarity on, The
Question...that is where the line is between non injurious CP and
abusive CP.

While I'm reasonable certain, and supported by some poster's
contributions here, parents believe they are not applying spanking to a
degree that would be counterproductive, the proof seems to be in the
outcomes.

Some children do well who are not spanked "harshly," while others do
not do well even if mildly spanked. The old 'Line crossed" problem
again.


http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0202073032.htm

Lehigh Researchers Examine Link Between Abusive Child-Rearing, Overly
Aggressive Behavior

Science Daily - Preschool children who receive severe physical
discipline by their parents stand a good chance of engaging in overly
aggressive behavior during their school years, Lehigh University
researchers say in an article to be published in the February issue of
the journal Child Maltreatment.

The Lehigh research is the nation's longest continuing study of child
abuse and neglect by parents.

The first round of the study, in 1976-77, gathered data from among 457
preschool children and their families. Data was collected from a total
of 374 of the 457 children in 1980 and 1982, when the children were
between 6 and 11 years old.

In both studies, researchers interviewed parents and observed them
interacting with their children. The researchers studied abusive and
non-abusive families representing a range of socioeconomic backgrounds.
The focus was to determine if developmental differences could be
identified in children who were severely disciplined in their preschool
years.

In their article, Roy C. Herrenkohl, distinguished university service
professor at Lehigh, and M. Jean Russo, a Lehigh research scientist,
say evidence points to a strong link between child rearing and early
childhood aggression.

"Infants and preschoolers whose early socioemotional needs are not
appropriately met develop expectations that care is not available and
that others cannot be trusted or caring," the researchers say.
"Consequently, these children may view themselves as unworthy of such
care and become angry in the expectation that their needs will not be
met. This sense of deprivation gives rise to frustration and anger.

"Overly severe physical discipline in early childhood is one type of
violent behavior experienced at a time when the child is learning to
interact with the world. The experience of harsh, physical discipline
both terrorizes and humiliates the child, adding to the sense of
worthlessness and providing a model for coping in social interactions.

"The child who is already angry in response to negative, inadequate
nurturance and is seeking protection from a coercive family and a
threatening world might be particularly susceptible to using aggressive
behavior."

This is especially true if the child is raised in a low socioeconomic
environment, where parents have fewer material resources and experience
higher levels of stress. Children from these environments also are less
likely to have positive models of social interaction outside the
nuclear family, the researchers say.

In contrast, more-affluent parents are more likely to have experienced
positive parenting themselves and have sufficient skills and resources
to cope with stress. Their pre-school children are less likely to
develop aggressive behavior in later years, the researchers say.

Herrenkohl and Russo, citing various other studies, say early
intervention programs have been designed to enhance the quality of a
parent's relationship to their child. These include programs that guide
mothers toward better self-care; home-based programs that help
care-takers moderate coercive child-rearing practices; and elementary
school-based programs that teach positive interpersonal skills.

Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by Lehigh
University.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0202073032.htm