After a study revealed that children who were physically punished were more likely to experience anxiety, it’s possible that parents will no longer be allowed to hit their children.
According to the findings of a survey conducted by the Australian Catholic University on 8,500 young adults ranging in age from 16 to 24, sixty percent of Australians reported being hit at least four times as children.
According to the findings of this research, girls who were hit as children have a 1.8 higher risk of developing a major depressive disorder and a 2.1 higher risk of experiencing anxiety.
If they had been subjected to physical punishment when they were younger, boys were almost nearly twice as likely to experience sadness and anxiety as other males were not subjected to such treatment.
Daryl Higgins, a professor at the Australian Catholic University and the Director of the Institute of Child Protection Studies, is at the forefront of the movement to make it illegal for parents to smack their children.
At the moment, it is not against the law for parents in Australia to hit their children; however, different jurisdictions have various regulations regarding this issue.
The pain of physical punishment in New South Wales should not last for more than a few seconds, and children are not allowed to have their heads or necks struck.
In the state of Victoria, there is no regulation that prohibits parents from physically punishing their children.
However, in many other states, this behaviour must be deemed “appropriate given the circumstances” before it may be permitted.
He suggested that rather than resorting to harsh physical punishment, parents should instruct their children in more constructive methods.
He stated,
“The only advantage is quick compliance, but we know it’s definitely connected to long-term harm.”
“The only benefit is instant compliance,” he added.
There are 62 countries around the globe that have made it illegal to physically punish children.
Some of these countries include Scotland, Sweden, and Korea.