Study Links Physical Punishment to Academic and Behavioral Issues
Smacking children as a disciplinary method may contribute to lower academic achievement and increased risky behaviors during adolescence, according to research conducted by University College London (UCL).
The study analyzed data from 19,000 children born in the UK between 2000 and 2002, examining instances of physical punishment at ages three, five, and seven. The researchers concluded that smacking "does no good whatsoever" and advocated for England and Northern Ireland to prohibit the practice, aligning with existing bans in Scotland and Wales.
The Department for Education in England stated that there are currently no plans to amend the law regarding smacking but emphasized that child safety and wellbeing remain government priorities.
Research Findings on Academic Performance and Risky Behavior
Associate Professor Anja Heilmann, the lead researcher, highlighted that the study found smacking "does not help children and all the effects that we did find were in the direction of a harmful outcome." The team reviewed data from 7,559 GCSE students in England, cross-referencing their exam results with the National Pupil Database.
The analysis revealed that children who had been smacked were 5.7 percentage points more likely to fail to achieve five GCSE passes at grades A*-C, including in English and Maths.
Additionally, the study identified that 14-year-olds who experienced physical punishment during early childhood were 33% more likely to engage in risky behaviors such as bullying.
"My hope is that smacking stops in the UK so children have the same protection from physical assault that adults have."
The research was observational, relying on questionnaires completed by families reporting on physical punishment. While the findings indicate associations, the study could not establish a direct causal link due to potential confounding factors influencing children's outcomes over time.
Legal Context and Public Opinion
Scotland was the first UK nation to outlaw physical punishment of children under 16, enacting a ban in 2020. Wales followed with similar legislation in 2022. However, smacking remains legal in Northern Ireland and England.
Supporters of a ban argue it would provide legal protection for children against assault, whereas opponents caution it might criminalize parental discipline.
Amy Woods, owner of Baby College in Salford, expressed her support for a ban in England, stating she "couldn't believe that there wasn't one already." She emphasized that children require warmth, responsive relationships, and play to thrive, not violence.
Sarah, a mother attending a playgroup with her 10-month-old son Joshua, also expressed surprise that smacking remains legal.
"I don't think it's a very good example to be setting to kids," she said. "If they do something wrong, like hit someone, and you smack them back it doesn't really reinforce the message of 'this isn't ok'."
Conversely, Professor Ellie Lee, a family and parenting researcher at the University of Kent and member of the Be Reasonable England campaign supporting smacking, commented on the study's findings.
"It would be great if we could just be nice to children and think they would just be nice back. But the reality of it is, is that in order for children to understand the rules of society, and to learn how to behave in a way that is moral, and that is good, we have to have boundaries, and boundaries have to be backed up."
Lee also noted that while the UCL study's results appear "plausible," there is often a tendency to seek simple explanations for complex developmental processes, which are typically multifactorial.
Additional Study Insights and Government Response
The UCL research further found that in 2021, one in five 10-year-olds had experienced some form of physical punishment. It also noted that mothers with higher education levels were less likely to use physical punishment.
The Northern Ireland Executive was contacted for comment but had not responded at the time of reporting.
