Child physical punishment rates dropped in NZ, but still common

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2021-04-30 00:01

New Zealand

PHOTO: Markus Spiske/Unsplash

More than 700 Kiwis have been interviewed to understand the frequency and type of physical punishment they’ve used as parents from 2002 to 2017. The researchers found a “clear downward trend” in reported cases of physical punishment, with minor assaults - such as smacking a child on their bottom - reduced by almost half (77% to 42%), and severe assaults by two-thirds (12% to 4%), between 2002 and 2017. However, they say that physical punishment remains a fairly common form of discipline even after the introduction of anti-smacking legislation in 2007, and they call for more effort to promote child-friendly parenting techniques.

Media release

From:

Journal/
conference: New Zealand Medical Journal

Organisation/s: University of Otago, University of Canterbury

Funder: Competing interests: "Professor Boden reports grants from Health Research Council during the conduct of the study. Dr McLeod reports grants from Health Research Council during the conduct of the study. Prof Horwood reports grants from Health Research Council during the conduct of the study."

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