New report challenges claims of harm from smacking

Newcastle upon Tyne – A new report by The Christian Institute has found that the evidence does not support claims 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.

Key findings include:

• 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.

The review points to 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 (age 3 to 5), 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.

The publication of the new review raises serious questions about the evidential basis for the smacking bans in Scotland and Wales (which came into effect in 2020 and 2022 respectively).

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 critique the overreliance on flawed research to push anti-smacking agendas:

“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 (who is available for interview about the report) 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.”

Notes for Editors:

The full report is available at the.ci/smackingreview.

Dr Ashley Frawley is available for interview on Friday 14 November.

ENDS