title: Moving research beyond the spanking debate.
abstract: Despite numerous studies identifying a broad range of harms associated with the use of spanking and other types of physical punishment, debate continues about its use as a form of discipline. In this commentary, we recommend four strategies to move the field forward and beyond the spanking debate including: 1) use of methodological approaches that allow for stronger causal inference; 2) consideration of human rights issues; 3) a focus on understanding the causes of spanking and reasons for its decline in certain countries; and 4) more emphasis on evidence-based approaches to changing social norms to reject spanking as a form of discipline. Physical punishment needs to be recognized as an important public health problem.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences, and of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Offord Centre for Child Studies, McMaster Innovation Park, Suite 201A, 1280 Main Street West Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4K1, Canada. Electronic address: macmilnh@mcmaster.ca.
authors.forename: Harriet L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: MacMillan
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Social Sciences, University of the West of England Bristol, Frenchay Campus, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1QY, United Kingdom. Electronic address: Christopher.Mikton@uwe.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Christopher R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Mikton
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002651:Child Advocacy / Q000523:psychology / Q000639:trends; D002668:Child Rearing / Q000523:psychology* / Q000639:trends; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009864:Ontario; D000066550:Physical Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000639:trends; D011678:Punishment / Q000523:psychology*; D012106:Research; D012945:Social Values
keywords: Physical discipline; Physical punishment; Spanking