May 28th 2024.
A recent study has revealed that Australian parents are more likely to use physical punishment, commonly known as smacking, as a form of discipline for their children compared to parents in other high-income countries. Led by Dr. Carolina Gonzalez, the study compared attitudes towards corporal punishment in Australia to those in Belgium, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK.
The findings showed that Australian parents were the most accepting of physical punishment for children, despite the growing movement to ban it. Dr. Gonzalez expressed concern over this, citing research that suggests parents who view physical punishment as an acceptable form of discipline are more likely to use it. She questioned the logic of causing pain to one's own child when we would never tolerate such behavior from a peer or stranger.
The study, which surveyed over 6700 parents of children between the ages of two to 12, also revealed that a majority of Australian adults (62.5%) had experienced physical punishment at least three times before they turned 18. Furthermore, over half of Australian parents (53.7%) reported using physical punishment at least once.
Dr. Gonzalez believes that the individualistic nature of Australia may contribute to this phenomenon, with a focus on parents managing their children's behavior on their own terms rather than addressing it as a public concern. Out of the eight countries included in the study, only Germany and Spain have completely banned physical punishment, while others have banned it in certain settings such as education, health, and justice.
As a mother of two and a clinical psychologist who has studied parenting for seven years, Dr. Gonzalez acknowledges that a ban on physical punishment would be beneficial and could potentially change attitudes. However, she also recognizes that it would require more than just legislation to eradicate it in Australia. The research showed that parents from Germany and Spain, where physical punishment is banned, did not significantly differ in their acceptance and use of it compared to parents from other countries.
Dr. Gonzalez believes that education about the negative consequences of physical punishment is crucial, rather than judgment towards parents who use it. She points to a wealth of evidence that supports the ineffectiveness of physical punishment as a disciplinary tool. In her words, "our children deserve to grow up in homes free of violence."
To bring an end to physical punishment of children, Dr. Gonzalez suggests implementing broad public campaigns, breaking historical and cultural patterns, and improving systems to support parents. The study, published in the Australian Journal of Social Issues, can be found on our website.
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