A recent study published in the Canadian Journal of Public Health has found that a notable portion of parents from the Gen Z and millennial generations continue to use spanking as a form of disciplinary punishment. According to the research, approximately 20% of parents in these age groups reported having spanked their children with their hand, compared to 45% of Gen X parents. The study surveyed around 4,000 adults and also revealed that 15% of respondents believe spanking is necessary to properly raise a child.

Experts in child development and pediatrics caution against the use of physical discipline, highlighting potential long-term negative effects. Dr. Isha Mannering, a pediatrician and parenting expert, noted that while spanking may lead to immediate compliance, it does so largely through fear rather than fostering essential skills such as self-regulation and sound judgment. She warned that physical punishment can normalize the use of force as a way to handle frustration or conflict.

Supporting these concerns, a 2021 study cited by Mannering found that children who were spanked at age three were more likely to exhibit externalizing behaviors by age five, including aggressive actions such as destroying possessions or bullying others. Another study from 2017 indicated that individuals who were spanked as children showed a higher likelihood of engaging in violence within romantic relationships later in life.

Both the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have taken clear positions opposing corporal punishment. The WHO defines corporal punishment as physical force intended to cause some degree of pain or discomfort, regardless of severity. The AAP’s stance evolved from discouraging spanking in a 1998 clinical report to officially abolishing the recommendation of physical discipline in its 2018 policy update. The academy stated that although many spanked children grow up to be well-adjusted adults, current evidence suggests spanking is unnecessary and may cause lasting harm.

Dr. Mannering emphasized that the medical community broadly agrees that physical punishment is not more effective than non-physical disciplinary methods and carries a higher risk of adverse consequences. Legal approaches to corporal punishment vary globally. While at least 69 countries have outlawed all forms of corporal punishment of children, including Sweden, which was the first to do so in 1979, spanking remains legal across all 50 states in the United States as of 2024.

The study also notes a cycle wherein individuals who were spanked as children are more likely to use spanking with their own offspring, potentially perpetuating the practice across generations.