Does Spanking Lower Kids’ IQ?

Kids Spanking Research Suggests Association between Spanking and Lower IQ in Children..

by CBS

Published: Fri, September 25, 2009 - 1:07 pm CST Last Updated: Fri, September 25, 2009 - 1:35 pm CST

(CBS) - (CBS) Could spanking make a child less intelligent than kids who aren't?

A new study conducted by the University of New Hampshire seems to indicate this is the case.

CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton explained researchers found that spanking is associated with a lower IQ.

The study will be presented Friday at the Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma (IVAT), an international resource and training center at Alliant International University, in San Diego.

About 1500 children, Ashton explained, were studied in two different age groups. The researchers, she said, followed the children over four years, and then rechecked their IQs.

"Now, they all got a little bit smarter with age as we would expect with children," Ashton said. "However, those who were spanked had a slightly lower IQ than those who were not -- across both age groups."

Among children ages 2 to 4, there was a five point difference between children who were spanked and those that weren't. And among children from 5 to 9 years old, there was a 2.8 point difference between the two groups.

Also, the study controlled socioeconomic factors, Ashton said, such as the educational level of parents and income.

However, Ashton pointed out, the study found this was just an association -- not a cause-and-effect finding.

"I don't think it's going to keep anyone out of college," Ashton said. "But, again, the more we learn about the impact of things like spanking, the more things like this will be researched."

Ashton added there are also societal, cultural and generational factors, at play here, as well.

"Early Show" co-anchor Harry Smith joked if he wouldn't have been spanked on the behind all the time he could have been a genius.

Ashton said in her case, it's generational.

"My mother got out the wooden spoon. My father took his belt off," she said. "My husband and I choose not to spank our children."

Instead, Ashton said she grabs her kid's ear, and pinches it as an alternative.

She said, "That usually gets their attention."

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mothersson2002 Says:

Sun, Oct 11, 2009 at 8:22 am

Don’t “temp GOD when the devil was trying to get Jesus to prove he couldn’t be hurt” clearly shows that physical violence of any kind clearly goes against God.

mothersson2002 Says:

Sun, Oct 11, 2009 at 7:52 am

For those that wish to contact CBS Early Show in regards to Dr Jennifer Ashton’s comments, The Contact Us button is at the bottom of this page:http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/earlyshow/main500202.shtml
This site wouldn’t allow me to post the contact page directly

mothersson2002 Says:

Sun, Oct 11, 2009 at 7:32 am

No rabid dogs obviously must be prevented from hurting others. Adults must be prevented from hitting those smaller than them- otherwise what does it teach them- to hit others when someone does something that irritates us.

mothersson2002 Says:

Sun, Oct 11, 2009 at 7:29 am

Actually a very large percentage children are still being hit and verbally assaulted as in the past. Just check out the comments here and by similar sites- Its still happening.

mothersson2002 Says:

Sun, Oct 11, 2009 at 7:17 am

Don’t “temp GOD when the devil was trying to get Jesus to prove he couldn’t be hurt”. That clearly indicates that Jesus had feelings such as children do.

carl Says:

Sun, Oct 11, 2009 at 7:10 am

I suppose if a rabid animal were to come along and wanted to bite you,you would just stick you leg out and let it bite away Huh?Then let it go along it’s way biting as many people it wanted too unhindered by anyone? I wouldn’t put too much credence into some research when without a doubt there will be others that probably show just the opposite.I believe it says also not to temp GOD when the devil was trying to get Jesus to prove he couldn’t be hurt.I understand that to mean use what GOD has given you,COMMON SENSE.Abuse should never be allowed on a child and anger should never enter into correcting a child.A swat on the Booty should be the last resort to correct a child when all else fails and never enough to physically hurt the child and only for the child’s own future well being.We came a long way, before all this permissiveness invaded the land, by believing you had to be responsible for your actions.A lot of the kids now seem never have been told “NO” and when they have been they do it anyway.Why shouldn’t they,if there is not going to be any punishment any way.Correction is one thing and abuse is another,don’t confuse the two.

mothersson2002 Says:

Sun, Oct 11, 2009 at 6:59 am

I also am concerned that DR Jennifer Ashton suggested pinching as an alternative. She may have been joking, however many may think she was condoning the practice. I have sent an email to CBS The Early Show so that those comments can be refuted so that some children will be protected from that type of abuse.

I also have started a petition to ban adults from hitting children:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/america39s-behind—ban-the-physical-assault-of-children

PDeverit Says:

Sun, Oct 11, 2009 at 3:49 am

Most compelling of all reasons to abandon this worst of all bad habits is the fact that bottom-slapping can be unintentional sexual abuse for some children. There is an abundance of educational resources, testimony, documentation, etc available on the subject that can easily be found by doing a little research with the recommended reads- visit http://www.nospank.net.

Just a handful of those helping to raise awareness of why child bottom-slapping isn’t a good idea:

American Academy of Pediatrics,
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry,
Center For Effective Discipline,
PsycHealth Ltd Behavioral Health Professionals,
Churches’ Network For Non-Violence,
Nobel Peace Prize recipient Archbishop Desmond Tutu,
Parenting In Jesus’ Footsteps,
Global Initiative To End All Corporal Punishment of Children,
United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

In 26 countries, child bottom-slapping is prohibited by law (with more in process). In fact, the US was the only UN member that did not ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

PDeverit Says:

Sun, Oct 11, 2009 at 3:41 am

Child buttock-battering vs. DISCIPLINE:

Child buttock-battering for the purpose of gaining compliance is nothing more than an inherited bad habit.

Its a good idea for people to take a look at what they are doing, and learn how to DISCIPLINE instead of hit.

I think the reason why television shows like “Supernanny” and “Dr. Phil” are so popular is because that is precisely what many (not all) people are trying to do.

There are several reasons why child bottom-slapping isn’t a good idea. Here are some good, quick reads recommended by professionals:

Plain Talk About Spanking
by Jordan Riak,

The Sexual Dangers of Spanking Children
by Tom Johnson,

NO VITAL ORGANS THERE So They Say
by Lesli Taylor M.D. and Adah Maurer Ph.D.

southfan1981 Says:

Sun, Oct 11, 2009 at 12:18 am

I wonder if the drop in IQ is more an indication of the parents’ lack of skills to continue to raise their child for success and use a positive means? We all know that environment can retard growth.

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