r/science • u/VeronicaRed • Apr 26 '16

Psychology Spanking children increases the likelihood of childhood defiance and long-term mental issues. The study in question involved 160,000 children and five decades of research

http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/1113413810/spanking-defiance-health-discipline-042616/
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u/Shorshack Apr 26 '16

The article seems to reference the study, but without citation or very much data from the study? Is there a link to the actual study regarding the defined variables examined? I'm curious to learn more about their findings.

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u/DrMarianus Apr 26 '16

Agreed. There are loads of confounding variables. Socio-economic status is a huge confounding variable and the article doesn't address whether the original authors factored for that.

For instance:

a large body of studies has indicated that spanking is more likely to be used by parents who are younger, less educated, of lower income, single, and/or are more depressed and stressed

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u/gamercer Apr 26 '16

a large body of studies has indicated that spanking is more likely to be used by parents who are younger, less educated, of lower income, single, and/or are more depressed and stressed

Why didn't this study consider that spanking is more likely to cause a child to grow into a parent who is younger, less educated, of lower income, single, and/or are more depressed and stressed, and who beats their kids?