This report outlines and discusses key findings arising from the first national survey of parenting styles and discipline in Ireland. A large body of research literature in the UK, USA and Australia has focused on the links between parenting styles, parental discipline responses, child behaviour and children’s psychological well-being (Smith et al, 2005; Gershoff, 2002; Parke, 2002; Eisenberg et al, 2001). Yet, there is little available information in Ireland about the prevalence of different parental discipline responses or of parental beliefs about and attitudes to the use of physical punishment as a form of discipline with children. The present study adopted a telephone survey methodology involving interviews with 1,353 women and men with at least one child under 18 years of age, living in private households.

In this Summary Report, key findings are presented on parenting styles and a range of discipline strategies, including physical punishment, adopted by parents in Ireland. Parents’ attitudes to physical punishment and to legislation on physical punishment are also presented.