Spanking and child outcomes: Old controversies and new meta-analyses

Used in 2 entries

For each citing entry, the verbatim excerpt and Likelier's calculation notes (how the source's number was converted to the lifetime-probability framing) are shown below. Click through to read the full claim ledger.

1. [1] Discipline vs leniency Decision · action side

   Statistic

   Spanking was significantly linked with 13 of 17 detrimental outcomes in 111 effect sizes representing 160,927 children; effect sizes did not differ substantially between spanking and physical abuse

   “"Thirteen of 17 mean effect sizes were significantly different from zero and all indicated a link between spanking and increased risk for detrimental child outcomes. Effect sizes did not substantially differ between spanking and physical abuse or by study design characteristics. Spanking was not associated with more immediate or long-term compliance."”

   Calculation notes

   Gershoff & Grogan-Kaylor (2016) meta-analysis in the Journal of Family Psychology, covering 111 effect sizes from 160,927 children. This source contextualizes the action side's potential downside at its harsh extreme (spanking/corporal punishment). It does not supply the regret rate; it establishes that even moderate physical discipline carries documented outcome costs, corroborating why 11% of adults raised strictly might retrospectively judge it negatively. The 11% rate comes from the YouGov 2022 source above.
   

   Source date: 2016-06-01 · Accessed: 2026-05-02

2. [2] Harsh vs gentle discipline Decision · action side

   Statistic

   Meta-analysis of 75 studies and 160,927 children found spanking significantly linked with 13 of 17 detrimental outcomes; effect sizes did not differ substantially between spanking and physical abuse

   “"Thirteen of 17 mean effect sizes were significantly different from zero and all indicated a link between spanking and increased risk for detrimental child outcomes. Effect sizes did not substantially differ between spanking and physical abuse or by study design characteristics. Spanking was not associated with more immediate or long-term compliance."”

   Calculation notes

   Gershoff & Grogan-Kaylor (2016) meta-analysis in the Journal of Family Psychology pooled 75 studies and 160,927 children to test whether spanking produces the compliance benefits often claimed by its defenders. It does not. Used here as the evidence base supporting parental discomfort with spanking: parents who report spanking with discomfort (the 30% in Zero to Three) are reading the same outcome pattern this meta-analysis confirms.
   

   Source date: 2016-06-01 · Accessed: 2026-05-24