UNICEF: 55% of Dominican children experienced violent discipline

A new Enhogar-MICS 2025 survey shows that violent discipline remains widespread in Dominican households, despite a much smaller proportion of caregivers believing that physical punishment is necessary to raise or educate children, according to UNICEF.

The study, conducted by the National Statistics Office (ONE), found that 12.1% of parents and caregivers of children ages 1 to 14 consider physical punishment necessary—equivalent to roughly one in eight caregivers.

However, 54.9% of children in that age group experienced some form of violent discipline during the month preceding the survey. The rate was highest among children ages 3 to 4, at 61.4%, followed by those ages 5 to 9 at 57.9%, those ages 10 to 14 at 52.4%, and children ages 1 to 2 at 45.9%.

The survey found that 37.9% experienced physical punishment, while 43% were subjected to psychological aggression. Severe physical punishment affected 2.5% of children, while 31.2% experienced non-violent disciplinary methods.

UNICEF highlighted the gap between caregivers’ stated attitudes and actual disciplinary practices as an important factor in understanding why violent discipline persists. These practices may be influenced by social norms, caregivers’ own childhood experiences, and limited knowledge of non-violent ways to establish boundaries and guide children’s behavior.

According to Carlos Carrera, UNICEF representative in the Dominican Republic, addressing the issue requires changing how authority and discipline are understood within families.

He emphasized that children can learn respect through clear boundaries without relying on fear, and that families, schools, and communities all have a role in promoting non-violent approaches to discipline.