I think frequent use of smacking a child, gives rise to increased anxiety in that child. As I noted in a link from the article which referenced depression as a consequence of the use of corporal punishment of children.
Society is in a constant state of change. How it can be possible to entirely attribute depressive children to smacking, seems a bit thin in evidence really.
With an ever increasing incidence of one parent households, stretched for resources, and a dwindling ability of one parent to fulfil every need and whim of a child, seems equally likely this may have an effect on the mental state of the parent and consequently the child.
Personality traits are also hereditary: That factor would feature in the make-up of the child also.
It's tough being a young parent. It's stressful and often unforgiving on many levels. Parents get to the point of strung out, and many lash out from frustration.
Children can often be the first base for relief of frustrations, under these circumstances.

The best way to relieve the pressure on children, is to assist the parents!

I think if every parent was truthful, they may remember at least one moment in their child's life where they may have received a smack from their parents? Even a little smack? I know I did once when my young daughter ran away from me towards a busy road.

Even so, we don't seem to have multiple cases of family violence in every household where the parents were smacked as children do we? So there must be other variables to the causes of family violence then.

Just attributing family violence to one-parent households is not the answer either. If that were so, wouldn't we have seen a surge in family violence after each of the world wars, when so many children were left without one or both parents killed in the war?

There is, however, a very fine line between disciplining your child with a mild slap on their hand, and going that one step further and really hurting them in a violent way.
It is the parents that don't know the difference that are the problem.

Oh dear.

How young.

How naïve.

How left.

It never hurt a child to be smacked. I was, my husband was, my children were and my daughter, who is a pre-school teacher who vowed NEVER, has smacked her youngest wild and uncontrollable boy. I am not talking about being bashed.

It's a reminder to a child that their behaviour is unacceptable when talking to them about it, or these days discussing it, does nothing.

I see spoilt brats of all ages dragging stock off supermarket shelves with 'mummy' softly telling them that they have 'discussed' this!!

Really? She had a discussion with a toddler?

SF,
"It never hurt a child to be smacked."
If that's true, how could it have had any effect at all (positive or negative)?

Every action, including doing nothing, has consequences. Smacking can cause harm. But banning it would cause more harm IMO.

As a previous child safety practitioner in NT and in Qld I am only too aware of the EXCESSES of parental 'discipline' whether it be physical, verbal and/or emotional. I suggest however that 'in the real world' most 'sane' parents need to occasionally let their children know that their are unpleasant consequences for willful misbehavior including a 'smack on the bum' if they try it on too far. Obviously other forms can be utilized as appropriate - time out, losing privileges, not TV watching, etc. Actions must bring consequences - sometimes not appreciated by those who flout the rules [aka speeding, etc] as well as children telling parents that they have 'child rights' which must? be greater than parental rights . . .

Balance is needed in everything. It would be great if academic feminists decrying domestic violence also started speaking out and lobbying for compulsory lessons in high school for all classes to understand that anger management is a pre-requisite for harmony in male/female [and homossexual/lesbian et al] relationhips and that respectful commmunication is a good start. . . also the lack of $$$$ and Court-ordered mandatory programs [compared to funding DV shelters and protection of battered females by males] is a factor as to why male perpetrator programs are pretty thin on the radar/ground. Programs that actually are funded to the level if female programs and services to address why some males are so 'dysfunctional' [past traumas themselves and/or role modelling]. Programs to counsel them and unravel and heal their inherent traumas may go part way of stopping a perpetrator just going from one dv victim to the next to the next without breaking the circles.

THe obvious question to ask (don't ever expect it from the abc) is that if a few more young ones had of got a smack occasionaly would we have young green women spitting in peoples face and claiming she did not know its wrong, a youngish woman Labour canditates posted herself on facebook with a giant condom, teachers being assualted at a rate like never before. I think the answer is obvious however we know now that academia teaches people how to justify shameless actions and simply push completely failed and warped narratives. The smacking is violence brigade heads this warped narrative.