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Corporal punishment (CP; spanking or hitting as punishment with the goal of correcting child behavior) is associated with higher risk for child abuse, aggressive behavior, and mental and physical health problems into adulthood. However, most surveyed Americans consider it acceptable or sometimes necessary.
To get an update of pediatric provider attitudes toward CP (last survey, 1997–1998, when only half of pediatricians opposed its use), researchers distributed a survey completed by 787 US pediatricians. Most respondents (79%) believed that spanking is a bad disciplinary technique overall, 72% that it is harmful for children, and 70% to 80% that it leads to worse child outcomes. Most did not consider spanking the only way to get a child to b…