Dominican Republic reports high rates of violent discipline in children

Data from the ENHOGAR-MICS 2025 survey, released by the National Statistics Office (ONE) and UNICEF, reveals high rates of violent discipline among children aged 1 to 14 in the Dominican Republic. Approximately 54.9% of children in this age group experienced some form of violent disciplinary method in the month preceding the survey.

Specific findings indicate that 37.9% of children received physical punishment, while 43% suffered psychological aggression. Severe physical punishment was reported in 2.5% of cases. The prevalence of violence is highest among children aged 3 to 4, at 61.4%.

While 54.9% of children experience violence, only 12.1% of caregivers—roughly one in eight—believe that physical punishment is necessary for upbringing or education. UNICEF noted a significant discrepancy between caregiver attitudes and actual practices, suggesting that violent discipline may be driven by social norms and a lack of familiarity with non-violent alternatives.