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Sparing the Rod Helps Behavior

Washington ... Researchers have found that the more a parent spanks a child for misbehaving, the worse, over time, that child behaves.

"We are able to show that when parents attempt to correct their child's behavior by spanking, it backfires. In the study, the more they spanked, the worse a child behaved two years and four years later."

Behavior got worse with more spanking, regardless of how much love, affection and attention the parents showed the child, Straus said. Thus, Straus strongly advocates that parents use non-physical alternatives to teach children good behavior, such as setting clear rules, reasoning, timeouts, and the withdrawal of certain privledges when necessary.

The new report has its limitations. It examined the disciplining of children ages 6 to 9, but not younger children. It still leaves completely unanswered what to do with toddlers exploring their world, terrible 2-year-olds throwing tantrums and preschoolers testing their limits.

Robert Larzelere, research director at Boys Town in Omaha, Neb., called Straus' "the strongest study to date" that links spanking with bad behavior. And he agrees that if parents are still routinely spanking their 6 -to- 9 year olds, "clearly something has gone wrong with the way parents are dealing with the child.

Other studies show some spanking of children, ages 18 months to 3 years, has improved behavior.

His research indicates that parents, who set clear rules, reason with toddlers, but use a swat to the rear as a last resort discipline their children best.

Aerobic exercise can work faster than drugs to lift depression

Courtesy of Nursing Spectrum Magazine

Aerobic exercise may be quicker than antidepressant medication, according to the March 27 issue of the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Twelve people with severe depression that had lasted an average of nine months exercised daily for 10 days.  In 10 patients, drugs had failed to substantially improve symptoms.

The exercise entailed walking on a treadmill for 30 minutes every day.  Three minutes of intense activity were alternated with walking at half speed for three minutes.  The intensity was increased as heart rate adapted to the training program.

Depression severity was measured at the start and end of the program, and patients also rated their mood at the beginning, middle and end of the 10 days.

After 10 days, six patients were substantially less depressed, including five in whom drug treatment had been largely unsuccessful.  Two were slightly less depressed, while the severity of symptoms remained the same in four patients.  Overall, depression scores fell by a third, and self-assessed scores fell by 25 percent.

Even though this is a small study, the extent of the improvement is impressive, given that antidepressants normally take two to four weeks to work.

For more information contact drsara@drhealheart.com.