The research used data from a representative UK cohort survey to explore relationships between parenting styles, physical punishment and child development outcomes.
This is the latest release
Findings provide further baseline evidence of overall levels of parent-reported physical punishment in the 10 years leading up to the Act.
No differences were found in results between UK countries, suggesting that they are relatively consistent across the UK.
In general, higher levels of physical punishment was related to poorer child development outcomes. This finding was more consistent for mothers’ physical punishment, compared to fathers.
The percentage of parents reporting using any form of physical punishment at least ‘once in a while’ fell consistently from 44% in 2012, to 24% in 2022. The rate of change did not vary between groups.
There were some differences in the overall proportion of parents reporting using physical punishment:
- fathers were more likely to report using physical punishment than mothers
- parents from Black or Asian ethnic groups were more likely to report using physical punishment compared to those from White ethnic groups
- parents were more likely to report using physical punishment for children assigned male at birth
- parents aged 31 to 40 years were more likely to report using physical punishment compared to those aged 51 or over
Findings broadly support the aims of schemes such as Parenting: Give it Time and their focus on authoritative parenting.
Reports
Parenting styles and physical punishment , file type: PDF, file size: 2 MB
Contact
Hannah Davies
Rydym yn croesawu gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg / We welcome correspondence in Welsh.
Media
Telephone: 0300 025 8099
Rydym yn croesawu galwadau yn Gymraeg / We welcome calls in Welsh.