Parental Views on Discipline and Parenting Practices Post‐Physical Punishment Ban in Wales

ABSTRACT

Child physical punishment was outlawed in Wales in March 2022. Previous research suggests that legislative changes prohibiting physical punishment can positively influence attitudes towards child discipline methods. This exploratory study investigated the impact of this legislative ban on Welsh parents' attitudes towards physical punishment and positive parenting practices through a qualitative online survey. Additionally, broader contextual factors, including the COVID‐19 pandemic, were considered in relation to parent and child well‐being. Participants comprised 25 psychology students who were parents residing in Wales with children aged 0–18 years. Findings indicated that parental attitudes varied widely, alongside a perceived lack of support for parenting and child behaviour management. Gaps in parental knowledge regarding the illegality of physical punishment in Wales were also identified. Further research is required to clarify parental perceptions of discipline versus punishment. Moreover, the prospective influence of Welsh Government legislation on attitudinal shifts holds broader implications for the global abolition of child physical punishment.