Spanking kids may lead to dating violence, study says

An on-going study at The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston uncovered a disturbing find.

Researchers say children who get spanked are more likely to be violent in future dating relationships.

Hundreds of young adults in our area were followed since childhood.

Almost two-thirds said they were spanked as kids, and 19 percent of them admitted to dating violence.

The abuse seemed to take hold more if the punishment was from a parent or someone they admired.

The researchers say that time-outs or rewarding positive behavior are both more effective at teaching kids right from wrong.

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