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Physical punishment a common form of violence against children

Smacking and physical punishment of children in Australia have been highlighted in a national study. A survey of 8500 people has revealed that almost 6 in 10 young people aged 16-24 years have been physically punished as children.

Smacking and physical punishment of children in Australia have been highlighted in a national study. A survey of 8500 people has revealed that almost 6 in 10 young people aged 16-24 years have been physically punished as children.

This data is part of the Australian Child Maltreatment Study that examined the prevalence of child maltreatment. A new paper, The prevalence of corporal punishment in Australia: Findings from a nationally representative survey, reports on community beliefs about the necessity of corporal punishment. Prof Daryl Higgins, Director, Institute of Child Protection Studies (ICPS), is one of 12 co-authors.

The study asked participants about their experiences, use and beliefs about physical punishment. Overall, 73.6% aged 16-24 did not believe that physical punishment is necessary, and 26.4% aged 65+ believed that physical punishment is necessary. These figures show that community attitudes to corporal punishment are changing. A hopeful trend is emerging: the study showed that use of physical punishment is much lower in younger generations of parents.

With younger people less likely to see physical punishment as necessary or to use it as part of their parenting, the time seems to be ripe for changes in legislation that could reduce this form of violence toward children. 

The Institute has been co-leading a group of advocates calling for law reform to capitalise on this trend to reduce this form of violence. We also highlight the need for public health campaigns and the provision of population-based parenting support.

This paper was published in a special edition of the Australian Journal of SocialIssues coordinated by the Parenting and Family Research Alliance (PAFRA). Three of the co-authors, Prof Daryl Higgins, Prof Sophie Havighurst (University of Melbourne) and Dr Divna Haslam (Queensland University of Technology) are members of the campaign to End Physical Punishment of Australian Children (EPPAC).

• To read more about the EPPAC campaign auspiced by PAFRA, see: https://www.pafra.org/eppac

• To support the EPPAC campaign to end physical punishment of Australian children, click here to sign a petition

• Read more about the role of ICPS in the campaign to end corporal punishment

• Read more about the role of ICPS in the Australian Child Maltreatment Study