Global Study: Physical Punishment Harms Children’s Mental and Physical Health Long-Term
New research in Nature Human Behaviour reveals lasting trauma from corporal punishment, especially in low-income countries lacking child psychological support systems.
Watan-A recent psychological study, published in early May in Nature Human Behaviour, highlights the severe negative consequences of corporal punishment on children, both short-term and long-term, especially in low- and middle-income countries where child mental health services are lacking.
Widespread Harm of Physical Discipline
Researchers from the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development at New York University revealed that while physical punishment harms children universally, its impact is especially severe in developing nations. These societies often accept physical discipline as a method of education due to cultural norms and the absence of protection centers for abused children.
Most countries now have laws banning physical punishment in schools and homes, following decades of research showing its harmful effects. The UN Secretary-General has called for a global ban on inflicting physical pain as a disciplinary tool. In 2006, corporal punishment was defined as any intentional method of causing pain, from using sticks or belts to harsh slapping or violent shaking.
As a result, 65 countries have outlawed all forms of corporal punishment, particularly those with high income levels.
Comprehensive Global Data Review
This study analyzed data from 195 previous studies conducted between 2002 and 2004 across 92 low- and middle-income countries, examining:
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Parent-child relationships
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Children’s physical and mental health
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Behavioral, emotional, and social development
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Environmental factors (home, school, child labor conditions)
Researchers explored questions like:
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Do physically punished children show signs of poor sleep or chronic pain?
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Do they become violent toward others?
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What is their home and school environment like?
The study also included detailed family profiles to assess:
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Socioeconomic and educational background
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History of substance abuse or mental illness
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Cultural acceptance of violence, especially against children
Emotional Detachment and Health Decline
The findings confirmed that corporal punishment significantly deteriorates emotional bonds between children and caregivers, pushing children to normalize violence and often act out in aggressive or self-destructive ways.
Key issues identified in children exposed to physical punishment include:
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Chronic pain, fatigue, poor sleep quality
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Depression, withdrawal, aggression, and antisocial behavior
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Substance abuse, academic decline, poor language skills, and social isolation
Crucially, the study found no positive outcomes associated with corporal punishment. Instead, it emphasized that children subjected to it are more likely to suffer from long-term psychological, behavioral, and health issues.
Cultural Perceptions and Risk Factors
The severity of harm varied by culture. In societies that normalize beating children at certain ages or for specific offenses, children showed slightly more tolerance—but this does not erase the damage, especially when punishment is severe or repeated.
In contrast, in cultures where corporal punishment is socially condemned, such acts often leave deep psychological scars, as they are viewed as humiliation and emotional rejection.
Urgent Call for Global Reform
The study urges immediate intervention in low-income countries, where 2 in 3 children under five experience physical punishment—putting their long-term health and development at grave risk.
With 90% of the world’s children living in these regions, the authors stress that reducing and eventually eliminating corporal punishment is a global health and human rights imperative.
