A study from the University College London (UCL) suggested that smacking children as a form of punishment is associated with lower academic performance in adolescence and a higher likelihood of risky teenage behaviour.
The researchers said that the findings add to global evidence that physical punishment has no benefits and instead correlates with harm across education, behaviour, and development.
It was observed that those who had been smacked saw the likelihood of them failing to get five pass grades (A* to C) at GCSE level, including English and Maths. The BBC noted that researchers compiled results from questionnaires completed by families of children who had been physically punished. However, their analysis could not prove a direct link between smacking and the results, as other factors might have influenced a child’s life over the research period.
As part of the research, the team reviewed 7,559 GCSE students in England against the National Pupil Database to determine how they scored in their exams.
