Physical punishment such as spanking is associated with worse behavior and mental health in children.

the verdict

INSUFFICIENT LEANING

Recorded sources

6 sources for · 0 against

Counts group repeated records of the same source within each side. They do not measure evidence strength or source independence.

Is it true that physical punishment such as spanking is associated with worse behavior and mental health in children?

Unclear. Several peer-reviewed reviews and one cohort study report associations between spanking or corporal punishment and worse child behavior, including aggression and externalizing problems, and an APA policy statement says physical discipline can harm children's mental health. The evidence is largely correlational and covers specific populations, ages, or outcomes rather than the full claim.

Verdict: PARTIAL LEAN · 6 sources for, 0 against · Last checked 3 Oct 2026

The private library was unavailable for some searches in this check. Missing library results are not evidence against the claim.

Evidence for · 6

Severe physical punishment: risk of mental health problems for poor urban children in Brazil

2009

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Severe physical punishment: risk of mental health problems for poor urban children in Brazil. (2009). iris.who.int. https://doi.org/10.2471/BLT.07.043125

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More for · 5

Is spanking an effective form of discipline for children?

2011

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Is spanking an effective form of discipline for children?. (2011). skeptics.stackexchange.com. https://skeptics.stackexchange.com/questions/1939/is-spanking-an-effective-form-of-discipline-for-children

Spanking and Corporal Punishment Parenting Practices and Child Development: A Systematic Review

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Spanking and Corporal Punishment Parenting Practices and Child Development: A Systematic Review. (n.d.). cir.nii.ac.jp. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248380221124243

Harsh Physical Discipline and Externalizing Behaviors in Children: A Systematic Review.

2022

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M, W. & F, P. (2022). Harsh Physical Discipline and Externalizing Behaviors in Children: A Systematic Review.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192114385

Mothers' Spanking of 3-Year-Old Children and Subsequent Risk of Children's Aggressive Behavior

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Mothers' Spanking of 3-Year-Old Children and Subsequent Risk of Children's Aggressive Behavior. (n.d.). cir.nii.ac.jp. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2009-2678

APA policy calls spanking harmful discipline for children

2019

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Canady, V. A. (2019). APA policy calls spanking harmful discipline for children. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1002/mhw.31790

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