What’s in your stocking?

Clinical question

What has research told us about Santa Claus?

Bottom line

Santa is linked to kindness, although children might not like waiting in line to see him at the mall. Children often stop believing in Santa around age 7 and this bothers parents more than children. Just because some children stop believing in Santa does not mean he does not exist: some people do not believe in evidence-based medicine, yet here we are.

Evidence

Is Santa linked to kindness?

• Adults (N = 52) shown the same story told by the same man dressed as Santa or a doctor found Santa “kinder”: 9.2 versus 8.7 out of 10 (P = .05).¹

  • -There was no defined minimally important difference in kindness: but every little bit matters.

• First-graders (N = 25) donated more gum when randomized to discuss Santa versus the Easter bunny or pets (3.6 pieces vs 1.3 to 1.6).²

• It is unclear if invoking Santa to promote good behaviour yields the intended results.³

Are children excited to see Santa in the mall?

• In a 5-year study of 150 to 300 children each year waiting in line to see Santa, 58% to 82% were indifferent according to a facial rating scale.^4–8

  • -More seemed happy 1 week before (30% to 37% happy) versus 4 weeks before Christmas (10% to 16%).^6,7

  • -More parents seemed happier (82% to 93%) than children did (6% to 37%).^5,7

  • -Reliability low (1 observer, scale used more for pain).^4–8

When do children stop believing?

• From 1896 to 1987, 4 studies found disbelief started at a mean age of 6.4 to 8.3 years.^3,9–11

• Age is the strongest predictor of belief.^3,9–11 “Fantasy” thinking (eg, imaginary friends) and the sex of the child are not predictive.^3,10,11 Parents’ belief¹¹ beyond age 10 and parental encouragement³ might predict believing longer.

  • -The transition is usually gradual, with 54% of children “figuring it out on their own.”⁹

Are children upset when they stop believing?

• Children had minimal distress transitioning to disbelief.⁹

  • -Most emotional ratings were “< 10% intensity” and generally positive.

  • -Parents are more negative: 40% sad versus 6% glad.

  • -Most children feel future children should be encouraged to believe in Santa.¹²

• Only 8% of newly disbelieving children thought they would not teach their kids about Santa.⁹

Context

• Other limitations:

  • -When lining up in the mall, it is unclear if the children were seeing the real Santa or someone in a Santa suit.^4–8

  • -Some research was performed in summer,⁹ early fall,¹ or around Easter^2,11 (known as bunny bias).

Implementation

While it might seem unbelievable for one being to visit children all over the globe on a single night, it is likely more unbelievable that academics are paid to write this review. Given that Santa generates positive feelings and disbelieving children support Santa for future generations, a prudent approach would be to follow some old advice: “You’d better be good, for goodness’ sake.”