Researchers from University College London have found that physical punishment of children, including spanking, is associated with a higher risk of behavioral problems, poorer academic performance, and a greater likelihood of engaging in risky behavior during adolescence, according to a report highlighted by News-Medical and Live Science.

The findings are based on data from the large-scale Millennium Cohort Study and form part of a broader report examining the impact of physical punishment on child development in the United Kingdom.

The study analyzed information from approximately 19,000 children born in the UK between 2000 and 2002 and followed them from infancy through age 17. Researchers compared experiences of physical punishment in early childhood with educational outcomes and adolescent behavior while accounting for socioeconomic and family-related factors.

The results showed that children who experienced physical punishment at ages 3, 5, and 7 were 5.7 percentage points more likely to fall below the threshold for strong GCSE performance at age 16 than children who were not physically punished (48% versus 42.3%). They also displayed higher levels of risky and aggressive behavior during adolescence.

In particular, adolescents who had been physically punished during early childhood were more likely to engage in behaviors involving aggression or rule-breaking. They reported higher rates of hitting, pushing, bullying, and cyberbullying. For example, at age 14, these teenagers were 33% more likely to exhibit risky behavior toward others.

The authors emphasize that physical punishment showed no measurable benefits for child-rearing while being consistently associated with negative outcomes affecting cognitive, educational, and social development.

The study also addresses the policy implications of these findings. Physical punishment has already been banned in Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, while it remains legally permissible under the concept of “reasonable punishment” in England and Northern Ireland. The researchers and child advocacy groups argue that the evidence supports a nationwide legal ban, noting that similar legislation has already been adopted in around 70 countries worldwide.

Although the use of physical punishment has declined in the UK, the researchers note that it continues to affect a substantial number of children. According to the analysis, roughly one in five 10-year-olds had experienced some form of physical punishment.

More broadly, the report combines quantitative research with interviews involving experts from education, social policy, healthcare, and child rights organizations. The overall conclusion is that legal measures prohibiting physical punishment can be effective and have already demonstrated positive results in other parts of the United Kingdom.