Report finds smacking children can lead to abuse and lasting harm

Research commissioned by charities and the Children’s Commissioner found that smacking kids can result in depression and a higher probability that they will become violent themselves.

The report’s authors argue that the old adage “it never did me any harm” is probably wrong and that the evidence against physical punishment is so overwhelmingly strong that it should be banned by law.

It criticises the view of the Scottish government that a low level of physical punishment is acceptable, arguing instead it is a violation of human rights.

The study was undertaken by Barnado’s Scotland, Children 1st, the NSPCCand Scotland’s Children’s Commissioner.

While it does not call for parents to be prosecuted, the report added: “The perception that legal reform risks criminalising parents must be weighted against the real, evidence-based risk to children of retaining a defence in the law, allowing their justifiable assault.”

The report utilised 74 reviews from around the world in the past decade, including two studies from Scotland: the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS) and Growing Up in Scotland (GUS).

A study involving 1,600 Scottish toddlers demonstrated that those subjected to smacking in their first two years were more than twice as likely to have emotional and behavioural problems at four than those who had not been hit.

The report concluded: “There is strong and consistent evidence from good quality research that physical punishment is associated with increased childhood aggression and antisocial behaviour.

“In other words, parents who are using physical punishment in response to perceived problem behaviour are likely to make it worse.”

Over half of children and parents say smacking and other forms of physical punishment are part of family life but accept they do not work, according to the study.

The MCS study found 58 per cent of Scottish mothers hit their five-year-olds but the GUS study found 80-90 per cent admitted doing so is not useful.

One of the authors, Dr Anja Heilmann (pictured), said: “Our review dispels the myth that physical punishment is a necessary disciplinary tool.

“Evidence shows that the vast majority of parents express highly ambivalent and negative feelings about its use.

“Where the law has been changed, this has not led to the criminalisation of parents. rather, the law is of strong value, which combined with positive parenting campaigns results in a faster reduction in the use of physical punishment.”

Co-author Sir Michael Marmot, professor of public health at the University of London added: “As well as ringing alarm bells, this review should also spur us into action. Scots law is out of step with the Scottish Government’s highly laudable approach to child wellbeing which focuses on prevention and early intervention.”

Support for legal change is backed by a number of organisations including theScottish Police Federation (SPF), Children’s Commissioner Tam Baillie, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.