You might not want to admit it, but if you’re like the 94% of parents, you’ve probably spanked your child in the last year. While this statistic specifically pertains to parents of 3- and 4-year-olds, a 2014 survey found that 76% of men and 65% of women believed a child sometimes required a “good hard spanking.” Though these numbers have decreased since 1986, when 84% of men and 82% of women agreed, they remain quite alarming.
Despite its commonality, spanking continues to be a contentious discipline method. A new meta-analysis published in the American Journal of Family Psychology aggregated five decades of research involving 160,000 children and concluded that spanking is detrimental to kids. Researchers are calling it the “most comprehensive examination to date of spanking outcomes.”
According to experts from the University of Austin, Texas, and the University of Michigan, “The more children are spanked, the more likely they are to defy their parents and to experience increased anti-social behavior, aggression, mental health issues, and cognitive challenges.”
While previous studies have made similar claims, many failed to differentiate between spanking and abusive conduct. Researcher Sarah Mitchell explains that this study is unique because it focuses on what most Americans define as spanking—specifically, “an open-handed hit on the behind or extremities”—rather than conflating it with more abusive actions. It also meticulously isolates the effects of spanking from other forms of physical punishment.
The findings are striking. In the short term, Mitchell states, “We found that spanking…was not associated with more immediate or long-term compliance, which are parents’ intended outcomes when they discipline their children.” In essence, giving a light smack to your child won’t make them listen now or instill a lasting lesson, as many believe.
Instead, Mitchell tells the Chicago Tribune, “Spanking worsens children’s behavior. It has the opposite effect parents desire.” It does not result in improved behavior or an understanding of right from wrong, nor does it correlate with immediate compliance or better behavior later on. So, swatting your child when they’re being particularly bothersome won’t make them stop, and it won’t encourage them to listen in the future.
Moreover, the study indicates that spanking is actually harmful. “Spanking increases the likelihood of a wide range of negative outcomes for children,” notes researcher Tom Henderson. The analysis also examined the effects on adults who were spanked as kids, revealing troubling trends. More adults who were spanked exhibited anti-social behavior, suffered from mental health issues, became aggressive, and were more likely to engage in delinquent acts. They also supported corporal punishment for their own children.
Even more concerning, researchers found that spanking and physical abuse were associated with similar harmful outcomes for children, with only slight variations in severity. “As a society, we view spanking and physical abuse as separate actions,” Henderson explains. “However, our research shows that spanking is linked to the same negative outcomes as abuse, albeit to a somewhat lesser extent.” Given that UNICEF estimates 60% of children globally experience spanking or another form of physical punishment, these findings are indeed sobering.
Christopher Taylor, a psychologist at Stetson University in Florida, points out that parents who spank may also employ harsher forms of discipline, complicating the issue. Some studies suggest that the impact of spanking can vary based on frequency, motivation, and the child’s age. Additionally, the question remains: Are kids spanked because they misbehave, or do they misbehave because they are spanked?
Despite ongoing debate, Mitchell asserts that the best course of action for parents is to avoid spanking altogether. As for the argument, “I was spanked and I turned out fine,” she counters, “We turned out fine because our parents did other things, like talking to us at the kitchen table and explaining why they wanted us to behave. We succeeded in spite of spanking, not because of it.”
As Mitchell aptly notes, “When I was a child, there were no seat belts in cars. Do I think I turned out fine because my parents didn’t use seat belts? No. I think I turned out fine because we didn’t get into an accident.”
Parents will likely continue to debate corporal punishment, but it ultimately falls on them to decide how best to discipline their children, within reasonable bounds. Personally, I plan to avoid spanking as much as possible. As Mitchell emphasizes, “Studies consistently show that spanking predicts negative behavior changes—there are no studies indicating that children improve.”
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In summary, scientific evidence strongly suggests that spanking can lead to various long-term harms for children, including increased aggression and mental health issues. The consensus is clear: refraining from spanking may be the best approach for healthier child development.
Keyphrase: Spanking and child development
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