Laura Poy Solano
La Jornada Newspaper
Sunday, January 12, 2025, p. 8
Parenting practices in Mexico still include acts of physical and psychological aggression, since 52 percent of girls and boys from one to 14 years old were subjected to violent discipline methods, while 11.8 percent of adolescents think that physical punishment It is necessary to educate them appropriately, reveals the National Health and Nutrition Survey (Ensanut) Continuous 2023.
In an analysis of the context faced by girls, boys and adolescents in the country, it stands out that another risk factor is that at least 5.9 percent of children under five years of age have been left alone, and 8.5 are left in the care of others. children under 10 years of age, which increases the risk of accidents or injuries.
The survey explains that during early childhood the brain develops rapidly, so exposure to quality contexts and interactions constitutes one of the main determinants of the development of girls and boys.
Parenting practices, he adds, are also part of the context, and include managing the behavior of girls and boys, as well as the use of different discipline methods, that is, both non-violent and violent.
The first, explains Ensanut 2023, include the guidance and support for the management of emotions and behaviors, conflict resolution and the acquisition of progressively more mature levels of responsibility, tolerance and interaction with other children and adults, while violent discipline methods include punitive strategies based on physical punishment and verbal intimidation
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Warning that exposure to violent discipline It has detrimental consequences on the development of girls and boys in the short and long term, hindering learning abilities, inhibiting positive relationships, promoting low self-esteem, emotional distress and depression.
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Among the main findings, it stands out that only 36.8 percent of minors were exposed exclusively to non-violent discipline methods.
In contrast, 35.3 percent suffered psychological aggression at home, and 31.4 received some physical punishment, and at least 3.5 were reprimanded with severe physical punishment. It stands out that the girls and boys who most face forms of discipline with physical and severe physical punishment live in rural areas.
Regarding the acceptance of violent discipline methods, it stands out that 9.5 percent of parents accept them in the practices used in girls and boys from one to four years old, a method in which no significant differences were observed by sex, education or type. of locality.
