New report examines whether smacking harms children

A new report by the Christian Institute claims the evidence does not support the view that mild smacking causes harm to children, particularly when delivered in the context of warm and loving parenting.

The narrative review, Does Smacking Contribute to Negative Outcomes for Children?, examines 37 peer-reviewed studies.

It focuses on associations between physical punishment and children's externalising behaviours (such as aggression and antisocial behaviour), internalising behaviours (like mental health issues and low self-esteem), and the moderating role of parental warmth.

The report claims that:

• Associations between smacking and negative outcomes are generally small, inconsistent, and confounded by factors like family stability, socio-economic status, and pre-existing child temperament.
• Evidence for links to internalising problems is inconclusive, with many studies showing no association or mixed results.
• High parental warmth often eliminates and can even reverse any potential negative effects, sometimes linking mild punishment to positive outcomes.

It also points to what it says are limitations in existing research, including:

• Despite correlations, research has never proven that physical punishment causes negative outcomes for children.
• Many studies measure outcomes at a very young age (ages three to five), leaving a major gap in our understanding of the long term.

The report cautions against bans on smacking, arguing that existing laws in England and Northern Ireland already distinguish reasonable chastisement from abuse. It recommends investing in parental support, family stability, and further UK-specific research, rather than criminalising parents.

Smacking bans in Scotland and Wales came into effect in 2020 and 2022 respectively. In England and Northern Ireland, parents can use what is legally termed "reasonable punishment," which is defined as a mild form of physical discipline, such as a light smack on the buttocks. However, if the smacking is severe enough to cause an injury like a bruise, scratch, or broken bone, it is illegal and can lead to prosecution for assault.

The Christian Institute report comes with a foreword by Dr Ashley Frawley (Visiting Researcher, Centre for Parenting Culture Studies, University of Kent), Frank Furedi (Emeritus Professor of Sociology, University of Kent), Dr Stuart Waiton (Senior Lecturer in Sociology and Criminology, Abertay University), and Professor Ellie Lee (Director, Centre for Parenting Culture Studies, University of Kent).

The four academics state: "Having discussed smacking with various parenting ‘experts’ over the years, we have often found a strange form of moralism wrapped up in talk of ‘evidence’ and ‘research’. Some of the worst culprits are the experts who insist that ‘just one smack’ and the child is ‘scarred for life’.

"Many of the studies about smacking do not have representative samples that are needed to make inferences about populations. Questions are often confused and don’t differentiate between light and severe forms of punishment, nor do they take into account the nature of the parent-child relationship more generally or the emotional climate in which children are being disciplined.

"Taking all of this and trying to isolate one, potentially tiny, aspect of their childhood, and finding ‘cause’ in their future behaviour or mental wellbeing makes no sense, or at least, lacks any common sense.

"Rather than constantly turning to experts, including those whose expertise is highly questionable, sometimes politicians need to use their common sense and to listen to their constituents. If they did so, they would understand that parents have a tough enough job without needing to constantly look over their shoulder or to be criminalised for trying to get on with their lives, and look after and raise their kids."

Dr Ashley Frawley commented: "This report exposes the shaky foundations for claims that even the mildest physical discipline scars children for life. Policymakers should prioritise real support for families over ideologically driven bans that ignore context and common sense."