Headline

In 2008, according to a nationally representative survey, 77 percent of men, and 65 percent of women 18 to 65 years old agreed that a child sometimes needs a “good hard spanking.”  These proportions have declined modestly since 1986, and more so among women than men. (See Figure 1)

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, and low self-esteem), and may be indicative of ineffective parenting.^3,4  Research also finds that the number of problem behaviors observed in adolescence is related to the amount of spanking a child receives, with the relationship becoming stronger as children age.⁵   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.⁶   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.⁷

The type of discipline parents employ is often influenced by both the age and the reasoning ability of the child.⁸   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.⁹   In contrast, older children may respond more readily to reasoned communication that is both firm and nurturing.

Trends

In the period between 1986 and 2008, the proportion of women who agreed or strongly agreed that it is sometimes necessary to give a child a “good, hard spanking” dropped by 21 percent (from 82 to 65 percent ).  Among men over the same period, this proportion fell by eight percent (from 84 to 77 percent). (See Figure 1) 

Differences by Gender

In 2008, 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” (77 and 65 percent, respectively).  (See Figure 1) 

Differences by Educational Attainment

In 2008, college-educated men and women were both less likely than their counterparts with less education to endorse spanking. 

Differences by Race and Hispanic Origin

Black women are more likely to agree or strongly agree that “a good hard spanking” is sometimes necessary.  In 2008, 80 percent of black women, compared with 61 percent of Hispanic women, 63 percent of white women, and 60 percent of Asian/Pacific Islander women, agreed that a child sometimes needs a “good hard spanking.” (See Figure 2) 

Differences by Age

There are no significant differences by age-group in the proportion of women who agree or strongly agree that spanking a child is sometimes necessary.  In 2008, 68 percent of 18-  to 24-year-old women agreed that a child sometimes needs a “good hard spanking,” compared with 66 percent of women ages 25-44, and 63 percent of 45- to 65-year-old women. (See Figure 3)

State and Local Estimates

 None

International Estimates

None

National Goals

None

Related Indicators

Child maltreatment

Parental warmth 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 necessary to discipline a child with a good hard spanking.”

Data Sources

Data for 1986 – 2000: Child Trends. 2002. Charting Parenthood: A Statistical Portrait of Fathers and Mothers in America. Washington, D.C.: Child Trends.  Available here.  (See Indicator P5 and Table P5.1)

Data for 2002-2008: Original analysis by Child Trends of the General Social Survey. 

Raw Data Source

General Social Survey
www.norc.org/GSS+Website/
 

 Recommended Citation: Child Trends (2009). Attitudes Towards Spanking. Retrieved from www.childtrendsdatabank.org/?q=node/187.

Last Updated: 2009
 

 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, 79-94.
 ² 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 :55 –70.
 ³ 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 (2nd ed.).  New  Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers.
 ⁵ 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): 1868-1886.
 ⁶ Baumrind, D. (1991). Effective parenting during the early adolescent transition. In P. Cowan & M. Hetherington (Eds.), Family Transitions.  Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
 ⁷ Ibid.
 ⁸ Petersen, G., & Rollins, B. (1987).  Parent-child socialization.  In M. Sussman and S. Steinmetz (Eds.), Handbook of Marriage and the Family.  New York: Plenum.
 ⁹ Child Trends.  (2002).  “Charting Parenthood: A Statistical Portrait of Fathers and Mothers.” Washington,D.C.: Child Trends.  http://www.childtrends.org/Files/ParenthoodRpt2002.pdf
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