Attitudes Toward Spanking

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Kristopher Turner
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1 Attitudes Toward Spanking Updated:

2 In 2014, according to a nationally representative survey, 76 percent of men, and 65 percent of women, 18 to 65 years old, agreed that a child sometimes needs a good hard spanking. This proportion has declined modestly since 1986 among women, while approval among males, after declining into the early 1990s, has remained steady. Importance One of the most frequently used strategies to discipline a child, especially a younger child, is spanking. 1 About 94 percent of parents of children ages three to four in the United States report having spanked their children in the previous year. 2 However, use of corporal punishment is linked to negative outcomes for children (e.g., delinquency, antisocial behavior, psychological problems, and alcohol and drug abuse), and may be indicative of ineffective parenting. 3,4,5 Research also finds that the number of problem behaviors observed in adolescence is related to the amount of spanking a child receives. The greater the age of the child, the stronger the relationship. 6 Positive child outcomes are more likely when parents refrain from using spanking and other physical punishment, and instead discipline their children through communication that is firm, reasoned, and nurturing. 7 Studies find this type of discipline can foster positive psychological outcomes, such as high self-esteem and cooperation with others, as well as improved achievement in school. 8 The type of discipline parents employ is often influenced by both the age and the reasoning ability of the child. 9 For example, a younger child may be less able to respond to rational verbal discipline; an alternative strategy might be to redirect the child s attention. 10 In contrast, older children may respond more readily to reasoned communication that is both firm and nurturing. 2

Importance One of the most frequently used strategies to discipline a child, especially a younger child, is spanking.

3 Trends Between 1986 and 2014, the proportion of women who agreed or strongly agreed that it is sometimes necessary to give a child a good, hard spanking dropped by 22 percent (from 82 to 65 percent). While approval among men dropped seven percent between 1986 and 1991 (from 84 to 78 percent), it has since remained steady, and was at 76 percent in (Figure 1) Figure Percentage of Males and Females Ages 18 to 65 Who Agree or Strongly Agree that it is Sometimes Necessary to Discipline a Child with a "Good, Hard Spanking": Selected Years, Percent Males Females Source: Data for was reproduced from Child Trends Charting Parenthood: A Statistical Portrait of Fathers and Mothers in America. Washington, DC: Child Trends. Table P5.1. Data for : Original analysis by Child Trends of the General Social Survey Differences by Gender In 2014, men were significantly more likely than women to agree or strongly agree that it is sometimes necessary to give a child a good, hard spanking (76 and 65 percent, respectively). (Figure 1) 3

(Figure 1) Figure 1 100 Percentage of Males and Females Ages 18 to 65 Who Agree or Strongly Agree that it is Sometimes Necessary to Discipline a Child with a "Good, Hard Spanking": Selected Years,

4 Differences by Race and Hispanic Origin Typically, black and Hispanic women are more likely than are white women to agree or strongly agree that a good hard spanking is sometimes necessary. However, in 2014, 81 percent of black women, compared with 62 percent, each, of Hispanic and white women, respectively agreed that a child sometimes needs a good hard spanking. There were no significant differences by race or ethnicity among males. (Figure 2) Asian women were the least likely to agree an average of 56 percent between 2006 and Figure 2 Percentage of Adults Who Agree that it is Sometimes Necessary to Give a Child a "Good Hard Spanking," by Race and Hispanic Origin, and Sex: Females Males Percent White non-hispanic Black non-hispanic Hispanic Source: Child Trends' original analysis of the General Social Survey

There were no significant differences by race or ethnicity among males. (Figure 2) Asian women were the least likely to agree an average of 56 percent between 2006 and 2014.

5 Differences by Educational Attainment In 2014, college-educated women and men were less likely to endorse spanking than their counterparts with less education. (Figure 3) Figure 3 Percentage of Adults Who Agree that it is Sometimes Necessary to Give a Child a "Good Hard Spanking," by Education and Sex, Females males Percent Less than high school High school diploma or GED Vocational/technical or some college College graduate Source: Child Trends' original analysis of the General Social Survey 2014 Differences by Age There are no significant differences by age-group in the proportion of men or women who agree or strongly agree that spanking a child is sometimes necessary. (Appendices 1 and 2) 5

77 57 64 Percent 50 25 0 Less than high school High school diploma or GED Vocational/technical or some college College graduate Source: Child Trends' original analysis of the General

6 State and Local Estimates None available. In all states, corporal punishment in the child s home is lawful. The majority of states prohibit corporal punishment in child care settings. Corporal punishment is unlawful in public schools in 31 states and the District of Columbia; and, in 19 states in both public and private schools. 12 International Estimates None available. In 46 countries, corporal punishment of children, including at home, is legally prohibited. 13 National Goals None. What Works to Make Progress on the Indicator See Child Trends LINKS database ( Lifecourse Interventions to Nurture Kids Successfully ) for reviews of many rigorously evaluated programs, including the following which have been shown to be effective for training parents in positive, non-violent parenting: Early Start: Healthy Families New York: Parent-Child Interaction Therapy: STAR Parenting Program: Triple-P Positive Parenting Program: 6

In 46 countries, corporal punishment of children, including at home, is legally prohibited. 13 National Goals None.

7 Related Indicators Child maltreatment: Children s exposure to violence: Parental warmth and affection(archived): Definition Adults in the General Social Survey were asked to report whether they strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree that it is sometimes necessary to discipline a child with a good hard spanking. Data Sources Data for : Original analysis by Child Trends of the General Social Survey conducted by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago. Available at Data for : Child Trends Charting Parenthood: A Statistical Portrait of Fathers and Mothers in America. Washington, D.C.: Child Trends. (See Indicator P5 and Table P5.1) Raw Data Source General Social Survey 7

indicators=parentalwarmth-and-affection Definition Adults in the General Social Survey were asked to report whether they strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree that it is sometimes

8 Appendix 1 - Percentage of Males, Ages 18 to 65, who Either Agree or Strongly Agree that it is Sometimes Necessary to Discipline a Child with a "Good, Hard Spanking": Selected Years, Total Race and Hispanic Origin 1 White non-hispanic Black non-hispanic Hispanic Poverty Status Poor Non-poor Marital Status Currently married Not currently married Parental Status Parent Non-parent

Status Currently married Not currently married Parental Status Parent Non-parent 84 81 83 82 78 73 78 73 77 79 75 77 76 77 75 77 76 84 80 83 82 75 73 76 73 75 79 74 77 74 77 77 78 76 80 93 80 93 91

9 Age of Respondent 18 to 24 years old to 44 years old to 65 years old Educational Attainment Less than high school High school diploma or GED Vocational/technical or some college College graduate Employment Status Not in labor force Looking for work Less than 35 hours per week hours or more per week Note: Scores based on two categories: Strongly Agree or Agree. "-" data not available. 1 Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race. Source: Data for was reproduced from Child Trends Charting Parenthood: A Statistical Portrait of Fathers and Mothers in America. Washington, DC: Child Trends. P5.1. Data for are a product of Child Trends' original analysis of the General Social Survey,

81 63 76 81 High school diploma or GED 84 82 85 86 79 76 81 75 79 84 79 80 84 81 85 83 87 Vocational/technical or some college 78 88-81 81 82 86 72 75 81 77 72 73 79 78 79 77 College graduate 83 76

10 Appendix 2 - Percentage of Females, Ages 18 to 65, who Either Agree or Strongly Agree that it is Sometimes Necessary to Discipline a Child with a "Good, Hard Spanking": Selected Years, Total Race and Hispanic Origin 1 White non-hispanic Black non-hispanic Hispanic Poverty Status Poor Non-poor Marital Status - Currently married Not currently married Parental Status Parent Non-parent

69 66 67 66 67 74 65 66 63 61 64 62 Black non-hispanic 92 88 88 93 84 88 87 84 82 84 80 94 84 80 76 74 81 Hispanic 81 77 86-83 66 65 67 73 76 56 72 65 61 67 76 62 Poverty Status Poor 87 77 81 81 77

11 Age of Respondent 18 to 24 years old to 44 years old to 65 years old Educational Attainment Less than high school High school diploma or GED Vocational/technical or some college College graduate Employment Status Not in labor force Looking for work Less than 35 hours per week hours or more per week Note: Scores based on two categories: Strongly Agree or Agree "-" data not available 1 Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race. Source: Data for was reproduced from Child Trends Charting Parenthood: A Statistical Portrait of Fathers and Mothers in America. Washington, DC: Child Trends. P5.1. Data for are a product of Child Trends' original analysis of the General Social Survey,

72 67 80 61 High school diploma or GED 81 77 76 77 69 71 73 71 69 74 72 74.3 73 70 71.

12 Endnotes 1 Day, R., Peterson, G., & McCracken, C. (1998). Predicting spanking of younger and older children by mothers and fathers. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 60, Straus M.A., and Stewart,.JH. (1999). Corporal punishment by American parents: national data on prevalence, chronicity, severity, and duration, in relation to child and family characteristics. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 2, McCord, J. (1995). Coercion and punishment in long-term perspectives. New York: Cambridge University Press. 4 Straus, M.A. (2001). Beating the devil out of them: Corporal punishment in American families and its effects on children (2 nd ed.). New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers. 5 Afifi, T. O., Mota, N. P., Dasiewicz, P., MacMillan, H. L., & Sareen, J. (2012). Physical punishment and mental disorders: Results from a nationally representative U.S. sample. Pediatrics, 130(2), Bradley, Robert H., et al. (2001). The home environments of children in the United States, Part II: Relations with behavioral development through age thirteen. Child Development, 72(6), Baumrind, D. (1991). Effective parenting during the early adolescent transition. In P. Cowan & M. Hetherington (Eds.), Family transitions. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum. 8 Ibid. 9 Petersen, G., & Rollins, B. (1987). Parent-child socialization. In M. Sussman and S. Steinmetz (Eds.), Handbook of Marriage and the Family. New York: Plenum. 10 Child Trends. (2002). Charting parenthood: A statistical portrait of fathers and mothers. Washington, DC: Child Trends Child Trends analysis of the General Social Survey. 12 Global Initiative to End all Corporal Punishment of Children. (2015). Retrieved from 13 Ibid. 12

Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 2, 55-70. 3 McCord, J. (1995). Coercion and punishment in long-term perspectives. New York: Cambridge University Press. 4 Straus, M.A. (2001).

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