Spanking or slapping your child if they misbehave could make them more aggressive with others later in life, scientists claim.

A review of 20 years worth of research found that the more often children were slapped, spanked or yelled at when they were naughty the more likely they were to display similar behaviour when they grew up.

Researchers Dr Joan Durrant from the Univeristy of Manitoba and Ron Ensom of the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, wrote in the Canadian Medical Association Journal: ‘Virtually without exception, these studies found that physical punishment was associated with higher levels of aggression against parents, siblings, peers and spouses.’

via >Don’t spank your child when they’re naughty: Physical punishment ‘makes them more aggressive later in life’ | Mail Online.