Let’s face it—many of us, just like 94% of parents, have probably spanked our kids in the last year. While that statistic mostly applies to parents of 3- and 4-year-olds, a 2014 survey revealed that 76% of men and 65% of women believed a child sometimes needed a “good hard spanking.” While these numbers have dipped since 1986, they’re still pretty eye-opening.
Despite its commonality, spanking is a questionable form of discipline. A recent meta-analysis published in the American Journal of Family Psychology reviewed five decades of research involving 160,000 children and concluded that spanking is detrimental to children. Researchers are calling this the most thorough analysis to date regarding the effects of spanking.
Researchers at the University of Austin, Texas, and the University of Michigan have found that increased spanking correlates with more defiance, antisocial behavior, aggression, mental health issues, and cognitive challenges in children. Yikes!
We’ve heard similar claims before, but this study stands out. Elizabeth Moore, one of the researchers, says it focuses on what most Americans consider spanking—defined as “an open-handed hit on the behind or extremities”—instead of crossing the line into abusive behavior. It also distinguishes spanking from other forms of physical punishment, leading to more accurate findings.
The results of this study have sparked significant conversation due to its size and credibility, but the news isn’t good. Moore 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 other words, a swat on the behind isn’t going to make your kid listen now or teach them a lifelong lesson.
In fact, Moore tells the Chicago Tribune, “Spanking makes children’s behavior worse. It has the opposite effect parents want.” It doesn’t improve behavior or instill a sense of right and wrong, nor does it lead to better compliance in the future. So, swatting your kid for being annoying won’t make them stop, nor will it teach them to listen better later on.
Not only is spanking ineffective, but it can also be harmful. Researcher Sam Taylor points out, “Spanking increases the likelihood of a wide variety of undesired outcomes for children.” The study looked at adults who were spanked as kids and the findings were bleak. The more they were spanked, the more they exhibited antisocial behavior, mental health issues, aggression, and even delinquency. They were also more likely to support corporal punishment for their own kids.
What’s troubling is that spanking and physical abuse yield similar negative outcomes in children. Taylor explains, “We as a society think of spanking and physical abuse as distinct behaviors. Yet our research shows that spanking is linked with the same negative child outcomes as abuse, just to a slightly lesser degree.” Considering that 60% of kids globally are spanked or physically punished, according to UNICEF, that’s pretty alarming.
Christopher Lewis, a psychologist at Stetson University, argues that parents who spank often use other disciplinary methods that may be harsher, making it hard to separate spanking from overall abuse. Some studies suggest that the effects of spanking may vary based on frequency, context, and the child’s age. Also, they didn’t tackle the big question: Are kids acting out because they’re spanked, or do they get spanked because they’re acting out?
Still, Moore insists that, despite the debate, the best course of action for parents is to avoid spanking. When someone says, “I got spanked and turned out okay,” she counters, “First, we turned out okay because our parents did other things, like sitting us down for talks and explaining their expectations. We turned out okay in spite of spanking, not because of it.”
As she puts it, “When I was a child, there were no seat belts in cars. Do I think I turned out okay because my parents didn’t use them? No. I turned out okay because I didn’t get into an accident.”
Parents will likely continue to debate corporal punishment, but ultimately, it’s up to each of us to decide how to discipline our children—within reason. Personally, I’ll be steering clear of spanking. Moore emphasizes, “Studies continue to find that spanking predicts negative behavior changes — there are no studies showing that kids improve.”
If you’re interested in alternative parenting strategies or learning more about at-home insemination, consider checking out resources like Make a Mom and their how it works page to explore your options. You can also join a community of like-minded individuals on Facebook.
In summary, the evidence against spanking is mounting, and as we learn more, it’s crucial to adapt our parenting techniques for the better.
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