Professor Murray Straus of the University of New Hampshire has discovered that the traumatizing effects of spanking have a spillover effect on IQ. Specifically, children who were spanked had lower IQs than children who were not spanked. Straus is presenting the results of his research at the 14th International Conference on Violence, Abuse, and Trauma, in San Diego, California, today.

To conduct his research, Straus followed children in two different age groups (ages two to four and ages five to nine). He looked at children who were being spanked and children who were not being spanked. He then followed up to see how all of the children were doing four years later, so that he could investigate any differences between being spanking versus not being spanking.

Here's what he found:

The IQ scores of children ages two to four who were spanked were 5 points lower four years later than children who were not spanked.
The IQ scores of children ages five to nine who were spanked were 2.8 points lower four years later than children who were not spanked.
How often parents spanked their children also made a difference in how well the children were doing. Children who were spanked frequently were developing more slowly than children who were spanked less frequently. Even occasional spankings had a measurable impact on child development.
According to Straus, being spanked is extremely stressful and can become a chronic source of stress for young children. They may experience post-traumatic stress symptoms such as being afraid that terrible things are about to happen and being easily startled. These symptoms are associated with lower IQ.


http://ca.lifestyle.yahoo.com/family-relationships/blog/anndouglas/1192/does-this-change-your-mind-about-spanking-spanking-can-lower-your-child-s-iq

it changeth not my mind. i will continue to spank and as always in moderation. all this stupid studies sef. what next? scolding makes them even dumber huh?

yes it does iwouldnt spank my children and hopefully their IQ will be higher than mine as my dad had spanked half of mine out no wonder european kids have higher IQ esp in education