Moving research beyond the spanking debate

MacMillan, Harriet L.; Mikton, Christopher

Abstract

© 2017 Elsevier Ltd Despite numerous studies identifying a broad range of harms associated with the use of spanking and other types of physical punishment, debate continues about its use as a form of discipline. In this commentary, we recommend four strategies to move the field forward and beyond the spanking debate including: 1) use of methodological approaches that allow for stronger causal inference; 2) consideration of human rights issues; 3) a focus on understanding the causes of spanking and reasons for its decline in certain countries; and 4) more emphasis on evidence-based approaches to changing social norms to reject spanking as a form of discipline. Physical punishment needs to be recognized as an important public health problem.

• Journal Article Type: Note
• Acceptance Date: Feb 6, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Mar 1, 2017
• Publication Date: Sep 1, 2017
• Deposit Date: Mar 17, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 1, 2019
• Journal: Child Abuse and Neglect
• Print ISSN: 0145-2134
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 71
• Pages: 5-8
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2017.02.012
• Keywords: spanking, physical punishment, physical discipline
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/880461
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2017.02.012
• Contract Date: Jun 1, 2017