Two out of three Swiss teens report corporal punishment
A survey of 17- and 18-year-olds in Switzerland found that two-thirds have experienced parental violence at some point in their youth. The economic and geographic background of families plays a role.
Punishments including slaps to the face and hits were experienced by some 41% of respondents, the survey found; harder violence such as punching, hitting with an object, or serious beatings were reported by 22%.
The figures were reported by the SonntagsBlick newspaper, which had access to a report by the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), which was in turn based on an anonymous survey of 8,317 students across ten Swiss cantons last year.
Various factors explained the extent of the violence among different groups, the report found.
For example, youths from families that were dependent on unemployment or other welfare benefits were twice as likely to report serious violence as those in wealthier households.
Families of immigrants were also more likely to use violence: more than three times as likely as non-immigrant Swiss children.
Such practices were most marked in families from African countries, Brazil, the Arab world, and Sri Lanka. At the other end of the scale, children from Austrian, German, and Swiss backgrounds reported less violence.
Respondents from urban areas were also more likely to have reported more physical punishment.
Study author Dirk Baier, interviewed by the SonntagsBlick paper, said that the results were significant in that such violence can seriously impact the future course of a child’s life: “affected adolescents are five times more dissatisfied with their own lives and become significantly more depressed”, he said.
The right of parents to use corporal punishment in disciplining their children was removed from Swiss law in 1978. But there is no outright ban in Switzerland, as there is in Germany.
In Germany, where the ban came into force in 2000, a lower number of children report receiving violent punishments – 40%.
Swiss climate activists block vehicles near Gotthard tunnel
This content was published on
Around ten climate activists briefly blocked the A2 motorway near the northern entrance of the Gotthard tunnel on Thursday.
Watches belonging to Michael Schumacher up for auction
This content was published on
Schumacher's family is auctioning off eight rare watches from his collection in Geneva. The Christie's auction will take place on Monday.
Joya Marleen and Baschi named best solo acts at Swiss Music Awards
This content was published on
St. Gallen singer Joya Marleen and Baschi from Basel were named artists of the year at the Swiss Music Awards 2024 on Wednesday night.
Swiss authorities announce cost-cutting in asylum sector
This content was published on
The government notably wants to improve integration into the labour force, particularly for people with protection status S.
Various leaders confirm participation at Ukraine peace conference
This content was published on
The presidents of Poland, Finland, and Latvia and the prime ministers of Spain and Belgium will be at the Swiss-hosted talks in mid-June.
This content was published on
In the winter season up to April 2024, railway and cable car operators ferried 3% more visitors compared to the previous winter, and 5% more than the five-year average.
Rhine flooding: Swiss to invest CHF1 billion with Austria
This content was published on
As part of an international agreement with Austria, the Swiss government wants to pump CHF1 billion ($1.1 billion) into flood protection measures along the Rhine over the next three decades.
Swiss government proposes CHF10 million UNRWA donation
This content was published on
After months of debate, Switzerland plans to give CHF10 million ($11 million) to the UN agency this year, rather than the CHF20 million initially foreseen.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Child abuse cases jump by 10% in 2017
This content was published on
The number of victims in Switzerland rose by 10% last year, according to the latest statistics collected by the Swiss Society of Pediatrics (SSP).
This content was published on
Nearly three out of four children worldwide experience some form of violence, a major international report has concluded.
Up to 50,000 child abuse cases registered every year
This content was published on
Between 30,000 and 50’000 children who suffer abuse are registered by the child protection authorities in Switzerland every year.
Law change: more people obliged to report child abuse
This content was published on
All professionals with regular contact with children will be obliged to report their suspicions of child abuse from January 1, 2019.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.