Spanked Kids May Become Sex Aggressors: Study

Though some 90% of American parents do it, spanking remains highly controversial, and research being released today will probably fan the flames, Newsweek reports. Heavily spanking kids has a major effect on their eventual sex lives, a new study finds, making them more likely to coerce a partner into having sex, avoid protection, or indulge in sado-masochistic play.

The oft-spanked were twice as likely to eschew condoms, and 75% were aroused by masochistic sex. The study backs up lots of existing findings, according to one leading spanking researcher. “The more children are spanked, the more aggressive they are,” she said. She also noted that they “may learn that sometimes there's pain and fear involved in loving relationships.” (More parenting stories.)