Hitting or smacking children as a form of punishment is linked to behavioural problems and worse exam results, according to a new report published by UCL and co-authored by Dr Becca Lacey, Reader in Social and Lifecourse Epidemiology at City St George’s, University of London.
By Lisa Jones (Press and Research Communications Manager), Published
The new research, funded by the Nuffield Foundation and supported by the NSPCC, is the first to focus on UK data relating to the impact of physical punishment on children – previous studies have focused mostly on data from the USA.
The research found that children in England who experienced physical punishment at the ages of three, five and seven were 5.7 percentage points more likely not to get five GCSE grades A* to C (or between nine and four), including English and Maths, compared with children who hadn’t experienced it (48 per cent versus 42.3 per cent), once other factors were taken into account.
The study found that those who experienced physical punishment at ages three, five and seven saw the likelihood of them failing to get 5 A*-C GCSE grades (including in English and Maths) increase by 5.7 percentage points compared with children who had not experienced it (48% versus 42.3%), once other factors were taken into account.
Similarly, children who experienced physical punishment at all three ages were 40 per cent more likely to engage in risky behaviours towards others, such as bullying or having hit, shoved or pushed someone aged 14 and 26 per cent more likely aged 17.
Striking a child is outlawed in Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland but remains legal in England and Northern Ireland. Proposals to make physical punishment illegal have just been dropped in Northern Ireland – similar plans were abandoned in England last year. Worldwide, using physical punishment against children is banned in 70 countries.
Dr Becca Lacey, who is also Deputy Director of the UCL-led Equalise: ESRC Centre for Lifecourse Health Equity, said:
“Physical punishment is the most common and socially accepted form of violence against children, including in the UK.
“The experience of abolishing the defence of reasonable punishment in Scotland and Wales provides valuable insights and learnings for the rest of the UK and beyond.
“Reforming the law requires political will and leadership, and careful implementation. Once achieved, societal acceptance of law reform is high.”
Lead author Dr Anja Heilmann said:
“Our findings corroborate previous evidence that physical punishment has no benefits and is linked to detrimental outcomes for children's development and wellbeing. Therefore, our main recommendation is that England and Northern Ireland should follow Scotland and Wales and remove the legal defence of reasonable punishment.
"The UK has some of the oldest housing stock in Europe, we need urgent action to improve housing standards and energy efficiency of homes so that every child can live in a safe, warm and healthy home.”
“Children have the right to be brought up free from all forms of violence. It cannot be right that, in 2026, children in England and Northern Ireland have less legal protection from physical harm than adults.
“Our children must not receive the message that we can enforce our will on others through inflicting physical pain. Reforming the law in England and Northern Ireland would signal that violence is never acceptable.”
Although in the UK parents’ use of physical punishment has declined over time, it still affects a substantial proportion of UK children.
The study shows that as recently as 2021, one in five 10-year-olds had been physically punished in some way.
For the study, the researchers used quantitative and qualitative methods and analysed data collected at regular intervals from age nine months to 17 years to examine how physical punishment related to family characteristics and child outcomes over time.
In terms of risky behaviours towards others, the study found that at age 14, adolescents who had experienced any physical punishment in early childhood (age 3-7) were 33% more likely to have engaged in any risky behaviours towards others (including 35% more likely to have hit, pushed, or shoved someone, and 41% more likely to report bullying siblings).
For their qualitative workstream, researchers interviewed 29 stakeholders across all four UK countries, representing multiple sectors with a professional or organisational interest in the subject of physical punishment. Key findings from that workstream included that successful advocacy for law reform requires broad, multisectoral coalitions including stakeholders from public health, social care, parent organisations, faith groups and police. Also, that Wales’s implementation serves as a useful blueprint for change in England and Northern Ireland.
MP Jess Asato, who attended the report’s launch in Parliament on Thursday 10 June, said:
“This latest report from UCL confirms that physically punishing children does not improve behaviour and is instead linked to a range of poor life outcomes, including ones which cost the state money.
Joanna Barrett, Associate Head of Policy at the NSPCC, said: “It is unacceptable that in England and Northern Ireland the law still allows a parent or carer to physically punish a child in the name of discipline.
“This UCL research shows yet again that physical punishment does not improve children's behaviour and in fact has an adverse impact on their wellbeing and links to poorer outcomes in the future.
You can read the full report here.