A UNICEF study has identified the social, psychological and environmental factors contributing to violent discipline against children and adolescents in the Dominican Republic, highlighting a significant gap between caregivers’ stated beliefs and actual parenting practices.
According to the 2025 ENHOGAR-MICS survey, only 12.1% of mothers and caregivers in the Dominican Republic consider physical punishment necessary, yet 54.9% of children ages 1 to 14 have experienced some form of violent discipline. The proportion rises to 61.4% among children ages 3 to 4.
The study found that violent discipline remains rooted in social norms surrounding obedience, adult authority and expectations of children’s behavior. These beliefs can be passed from one generation to another, while concerns about being perceived as permissive or ineffective parents may encourage some caregivers to use physical punishment.
UNICEF’s research, based on interviews with 431 people in the Dominican Republic, analyzed 110 variables to identify factors that contribute to physical punishment and psychological violence, as well as barriers to eliminating these practices. It also examined how age, gender, disability and racialization can influence children’s experiences of violence.
The study identified stress, exhaustion, caregiving responsibilities, personal upbringing and living conditions as additional factors that can affect how caregivers respond to conflicts. Limited access to support and practical tools for managing behavior can also make it difficult for families to adopt nonviolent alternatives.
UNICEF emphasized that physical punishment violates the dignity and rights of children and adolescents and can expose them to toxic stress, potentially affecting brain development, health, learning and long-term well-being.
To address the situation in the Dominican Republic, the study recommends coordinated action across the legal, institutional, community and family levels. Among its proposals are an explicit prohibition of physical punishment and psychological violence, stronger coordination among protection, health, education, justice and social protection institutions, and expanded practical and psychosocial support for families.
The research also calls for greater shared responsibility among men in caregiving and effective participation by children and adolescents in decisions that affect them. UNICEF stressed that reducing violent discipline requires not only rejecting punishment but also transforming the social norms that continue to justify it and ensuring families have the tools and support needed to raise children without violence.