Public attitudes to physical punishment of children: wave 8 survey, November 2024

Main findings

Comparison of findings marked with an * are statistically significant, that is, they are likely to reflect a genuine difference over time or between population groups’.

Attitudes towards smacking

In the latest survey 29% agreed and 54% disagreed that it is sometimes necessary to smack a child. This difference is the same as the November 2023 wave.

Those who have caring responsibilities for children aged seven or under, were more likely to disagree that it is sometimes necessary to smack a child (63%) compared with those who do not have caring responsibilities for children aged seven or under (52%)*, similar to findings found in previous waves of the survey.

Opinion remains related to age with those aged over 55 being much more likely to agree that ‘it is sometimes necessary to smack a child’*.

More men agreed with the statement ‘it is sometimes necessary to smack a child’ at 33% compared with 26% of women in the latest survey*. This is similar to findings from previous surveys.

30% of those in social grades ABC1 (largely managerial and professional occupations) and 29% of those in social grades C2DE (largely manual occupations), agreed with the statement ‘it is sometimes necessary to smack a child. This is similar to findings in previous surveys.

Knowledge of current legislation

87% of respondents surveyed in November 2023 correctly thought that the law did not allow parents to smack their children. Only 9% thought the law did allow parents to smack and the remaining 4% reported being unsure. These findings are the same as reported in November 2023.

Awareness of changes to legislation

Levels of ‘unprompted’ awareness of the change in legislation have decreased slightly. In the latest wave of the survey, 70% of people surveyed reported that they were aware of changes to the law in the last year at an unprompted level. This is higher than the levels who were aware in November 2023* at 66%. 

At an ‘unprompted’ level, carers of children aged seven or under were more likely (75%) to be aware of the change than those without these responsibilities (69%). 

At an ‘unprompted’ level, those aged between 16 to 34 were less likely (57%) to be aware of the change in legislation than those aged 35 to 54 (70%) and those aged 55+ (78%)*.

When prompted, carers of children aged seven or under were more likely (87%) to be aware of the change than those without these responsibilities (82%)*.

In all surveys, TV news / programme was the most frequently cited as the source of awareness of the change in law.

Opinion of changes to legislation

In the latest survey almost 55% were in favour of the removal of the defence of reasonable punishment. This is slightly lower than in November 2023 (53%).

The change in support for the legislation over time is mostly because of changes in the proportion ‘wanting more information/were unsure of their opinion’, rather than due to a decline in opposition to the change, which has remained relatively consistent.

Those with caring responsibilities for children aged seven and under were more likely to be in favour of the proposed change (67% in favour, 21% against) compared with those who did not have these responsibilities (50% in favour, 27% against)*.

 Similar to previous waves of the survey, those aged 16 to 54 years were much more likely to be in favour of rather than against the change in legislation. Among those aged 55+ opinion was more mixed with two-fifths (45%) in support of the change and around a third (34%) being against it*.

Similar to previous waves of the survey, women were much more likely to be in favour of the change (56%) than against it (22%). Whilst more men were in favour of the change than against it, the gap between the two proportions was narrower (54% in favour, 30% against)*.

When asked why respondents were in favour of the change, the most common response was that they ‘[did] not agree with smacking or physical punishment of children’ (41% of those who were for the change). This was also the most frequent response across the previous waves.

Whilst the proportion in favour of the change has changed over recent years, those who remain opposed to the change has been stable suggesting there is a group who will struggle to be convinced of the change.

Around a third (33%) of those against change thought that the current situation was ‘needed to control behaviour / discipline child / teach respect / show boundaries’.