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Duong HT, Sirohi A, Baggett KM. Predicting Black Parents' Attitudes Toward Corporal Punishment: A Moderated-Mediation Model of Frequency and Valence of Childhood Experiences. J Interpers Violence 2024; 39:2103-2126. [PMID: 38018530 DOI: 10.1177/08862605231214591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
Child corporal punishment (CP) may lead to child physical abuse, which is a public health concern in the United States. The present study examined major risk factors predicting attitudes toward CP among a sample of Black parents (N = 394), including frequency and valence of experiences of CP during childhood, outcome expectancies of CP, and perceptions of self-efficacy and response efficacy of non-physical discipline strategies. Structural equation modeling results revealed that the indirect associations between CP frequency and attitudes through self-efficacy and response efficacy were moderated by CP valence. Results extend the literature and point to the need for incorporating information about efficacy of evidence-based non-physical discipline strategies into intervention messages targeting prevention of child physical abuse.
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Duong HT, Sirohi A. Where Do Perceived Norms Supporting Child Corporal Punishment Come From? A Study of Low-Income Parents. Health Commun 2024; 39:915-926. [PMID: 36959700 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2023.2193754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Although the influence of perceived norms on health behavior has been well researched, the sources of normative perceptions remain understudied. Drawing on the theory of normative social behavior, this study investigated factors shaping descriptive norms associated with child corporal punishment among a sample of low-income Black, Hispanic, and White parents (N = 260). Hierarchical regression results showed that childhood experiences of corporal punishment, direct observation, and interpersonal communication valence were significantly associated with descriptive norms. Path analysis confirmed the direct association between descriptive norms and behavioral intentions, as well as the mediating role of descriptive norms in linking the norm sources and behavioral intentions. Results also revealed that interpersonal network size and interpersonal communication valence jointly affected descriptive norms among parents who talked to others in their proximal networks about applying this disciplinary measure. Theoretical and practical implications were discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hue Trong Duong
- Department of Communication, College of Arts and Sciences, Georgia State University
| | - Akansha Sirohi
- Department of Communication, College of Arts and Sciences, Georgia State University
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3
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Harnett NG, Dumornay NM, Delity M, Sanchez LD, Mohiuddin K, Musey PI, Seamon MJ, McLean SA, Kessler RC, Koenen KC, Beaudoin FL, Lebois L, van Rooij SJ, Sampson NA, Michopoulos V, Maples-Keller JL, Haran JP, Storrow AB, Lewandowski C, Hendry PL, Sheikh S, Jones CW, Punches BE, Kurz MC, Swor RA, McGrath ME, Hudak LA, Pascual JL, House SL, An X, Stevens JS, Neylan TC, Jovanovic T, Linnstaedt SD, Germine LT, Datner EM, Chang AM, Pearson C, Peak DA, Merchant RC, Domeier RM, Rathlev NK, O’Neil BJ, Sergot P, Bruce SE, Miller MW, Pietrzak RH, Joormann J, Barch DM, Pizzagalli DA, Sheridan JF, Smoller JW, Luna B, Harte SE, Elliott JM, Ressler KJ. Prior differences in previous trauma exposure primarily drive the observed racial/ethnic differences in posttrauma depression and anxiety following a recent trauma. Psychol Med 2023; 53:2553-2562. [PMID: 35094717 PMCID: PMC9339026 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291721004475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Racial and ethnic groups in the USA differ in the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Recent research however has not observed consistent racial/ethnic differences in posttraumatic stress in the early aftermath of trauma, suggesting that such differences in chronic PTSD rates may be related to differences in recovery over time. METHODS As part of the multisite, longitudinal AURORA study, we investigated racial/ethnic differences in PTSD and related outcomes within 3 months after trauma. Participants (n = 930) were recruited from emergency departments across the USA and provided periodic (2 weeks, 8 weeks, and 3 months after trauma) self-report assessments of PTSD, depression, dissociation, anxiety, and resilience. Linear models were completed to investigate racial/ethnic differences in posttraumatic dysfunction with subsequent follow-up models assessing potential effects of prior life stressors. RESULTS Racial/ethnic groups did not differ in symptoms over time; however, Black participants showed reduced posttraumatic depression and anxiety symptoms overall compared to Hispanic participants and White participants. Racial/ethnic differences were not attenuated after accounting for differences in sociodemographic factors. However, racial/ethnic differences in depression and anxiety were no longer significant after accounting for greater prior trauma exposure and childhood emotional abuse in White participants. CONCLUSIONS The present findings suggest prior differences in previous trauma exposure partially mediate the observed racial/ethnic differences in posttraumatic depression and anxiety symptoms following a recent trauma. Our findings further demonstrate that racial/ethnic groups show similar rates of symptom recovery over time. Future work utilizing longer time-scale data is needed to elucidate potential racial/ethnic differences in long-term symptom trajectories.
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Affiliation(s)
- N. G. Harnett
- Division of Depression and Anxiety, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - N. M. Dumornay
- Division of Depression and Anxiety, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
| | - M. Delity
- Division of Depression and Anxiety, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
| | - L. D. Sanchez
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - K. Mohiuddin
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19141, USA
| | - P. I. Musey
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - M. J. Seamon
- Department of Surgery, Division of Traumatology, Surgical Critical Care and Emergency Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, PA, 19104, USA
| | - S. A. McLean
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27559, USA
- Institute for Trauma Recovery, Department of Anesthesiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27559, USA
| | - R. C. Kessler
- Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - K. C. Koenen
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - F. L. Beaudoin
- Department of Emergency Medicine & Department of Health Services, Policy, and Practice, The Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Rhode Island Hospital and The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, 02930, USA
| | - L. Lebois
- Division of Depression and Anxiety, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - S. J. van Rooij
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - N. A. Sampson
- Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - V. Michopoulos
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - J. L. Maples-Keller
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - J. P. Haran
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01655, USA
| | - A. B. Storrow
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - C. Lewandowski
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA
| | - P. L. Hendry
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine -Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL, 32209, USA
| | - S. Sheikh
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine -Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL, 32209, USA
| | - C. W. Jones
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ, 08103, USA
| | - B. E. Punches
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA
- College of Nursing, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45221, USA
| | - M. C. Kurz
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
- Department of Surgery, Division of Acute Care Surgery, University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
- Center for Injury Science, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - R. A. Swor
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Rochester, MI, 48309, USA
| | - M. E. McGrath
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - L. A. Hudak
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - J. L. Pascual
- Department of Surgery, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, PA, 19104, USA
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, PA, 19104, USA
| | - S. L. House
- Department of Emergency Medicine,, Washington University School of Medicine,, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - X. An
- Institute for Trauma Recovery, Department of Anesthesiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27559, USA
| | - J. S. Stevens
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - T. C. Neylan
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - T. Jovanovic
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MA, 48202, USA
| | - S. D. Linnstaedt
- Institute for Trauma Recovery, Department of Anesthesiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27559, USA
| | - L. T. Germine
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Institute for Technology in Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
| | - E. M. Datner
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Einstein Healthcare Network, Pennsylvania, PA, 19141, USA
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Pennsylvania, PA, 19107, USA
| | - A. M. Chang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Jefferson University Hospitals, Pennsylvania, PA, 19107, USA
| | - C. Pearson
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MA, 48202, USA
| | - D. A. Peak
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - R. C. Merchant
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - R. M. Domeier
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital, Ypsilanti, MI, 48197, USA
| | - N. K. Rathlev
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School-Baystate, Springfield, MA, 01107, USA
| | - B. J. O’Neil
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MA, 48202, USA
| | - P. Sergot
- Department of Emergency Medicine, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - S. E. Bruce
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri - St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63121, USA
| | - M. W. Miller
- National Center for PTSD, Behavioral Science Division, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, 02130, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - R. H. Pietrzak
- National Center for PTSD, Clinical Neurosciences Division, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, 06516, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, West Haven, CT, 06510, USA
| | - J. Joormann
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, West Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - D. M. Barch
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - D. A. Pizzagalli
- Division of Depression and Anxiety, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - J. F. Sheridan
- Department of Biosciences, OSU Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
- Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, OSU Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, 43211, USA
| | - J. W. Smoller
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - B. Luna
- Affiliation Laboratory of Neurocognitive Development, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center- Western Psychiatric Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - S. E. Harte
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine-Rheumatology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - J. M. Elliott
- Kolling Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, St Leonards, New South Wales, 2065, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, 2006,, Australia
- Physical Therapy & Human Movement Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60208, USA
| | - K. J. Ressler
- Division of Depression and Anxiety, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
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Duong HT. Applying the Integrative Model to Predict Intention to Use Corporal Punishment Among Low-income Parents. Health Educ Behav 2023; 50:250-259. [PMID: 34713734 DOI: 10.1177/10901981211052881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Child corporal punishment (CP) is associated with child physical abuse, which is a public health problem in the United States. Informed by the integrative model of behavioral prediction, this study surveyed low-income Black, Hispanic, and White parents who had children younger than 6 years old (N = 260) to identify major risk factors that determined intention to use CP to discipline children. Structural equation modeling revealed that attitudes, descriptive norms, and perceived efficacy of alternative discipline strategies were associated with intention to use CP. Additionally, parents' childhood CP frequency and past use of CP with their own children were influential distal variables that indirectly predicted CP intention. Results indicated the utility of the model in this behavioral context. Communication intervention programs targeting low-income parents should leverage perceived norms, perceived efficacy of alternative discipline strategies, and attitudes to change CP behavior.
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Duong HT. Childhood Experiences and Attitudes toward Corporal Punishment: The Mediating Role of Perceived Efficacy of Alternative Discipline Strategies among Low-income Black, Hispanic, and White Parents. J Interpers Violence 2022; 37:NP18266-NP18290. [PMID: 34344224 DOI: 10.1177/08862605211035879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Corporal punishment (CP) is associated with harmful outcomes to child development. Favorable attitudes toward CP are a major predictor of CP use. Thus, identifying and changing factors influencing such attitudes help to prevent CP. Although research has confirmed the effect of childhood experiences of CP on attitudes toward CP, few studies have examined mechanisms underpinning this association. To fill this gap, this study investigated the role of perceived efficacy of alternative discipline strategies in mediating the association between childhood experiences of CP and attitudes toward CP among low-income Black, Hispanic, and White parents. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with 230 parents (Mage = 31; Black = 62, Hispanic = 62; White = 106). Structural equation modeling results revealed that more positive childhood experiences of CP were associated with lower perceived efficacy of alternative discipline strategies. In turn, lower perceived efficacy of alternative discipline strategies was associated with more favorable attitudes toward CP. Mediation analysis performed by the bootstrapping methods confirmed the mediating effect of perceived efficacy of alternative discipline strategies. When race was considered, this mediation pathway was held for Hispanic and White parent groups. These results suggested that future research should pay more attention to the role of perceived efficacy of alternative discipline strategies. Additionally, public education campaigns should consider incorporating efficacy messages to effectively reduce positive attitudes toward CP among low-income parents.
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Duong HT, Monahan JL, Mercer Kollar LM, Klevens J. Examining Sources of Social Norms Supporting Child Corporal Punishment Among Low-Income Black, Latino, and White Parents. Health Commun 2022; 37:1413-1422. [PMID: 33685307 PMCID: PMC8608415 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2021.1895418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Child corporal punishment is a prevalent public health problem in the US. Although corporal punishment is sustained through parents' perceptions of social norms supporting this discipline behavior, little research has investigated where these normative perceptions come from. To fill this gap, we conducted 13 focus groups including 75 low-income Black, Latino, and White parents across five states in the US. Results revealed that one influential source of Black and White parents' perceived norms was their positive framing of corporal punishment experiences during childhood. Furthermore, Black parents formed normative perceptions based on identification with parents in their racial/ethnic group, while White parents did so with parents sharing the same generation. Results are interpreted in light of the false consensus effect and self-categorization theory. In contrast, Latino parents viewed their childhood experience of corporal punishment as negative and distanced their parenting practices from those practiced in their countries of origin, suggesting an influence of acculturation. Their perceived norms were likely transmitted through interpersonal communication within their social networks. These findings shed light on how social norms are formed and in turn guide parents' use of corporal punishment as a tool to discipline children.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Laura M. Mercer Kollar
- Division of Violence Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
| | - Joanne Klevens
- Division of Violence Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
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Fortier J, Stewart-Tufescu A, Salmon S, MacMillan HL, Gonzalez A, Kimber M, Duncan L, Taillieu T, Davila IG, Struck S, Afifi TO. Associations between Lifetime Spanking/Slapping and Adolescent Physical and Mental Health and Behavioral Outcomes. Can J Psychiatry 2022; 67:280-288. [PMID: 33686872 PMCID: PMC9014670 DOI: 10.1177/07067437211000632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many parents use physical forms of punishment, including spanking to correct perceived misbehavior. While some authors suggest spanking/slapping is a distinct and "milder" form of physical punishment, parents' use of spanking is consistently associated with poor outcomes for their children. However, less is known about the relationship between spanking/slapping and health and behavioral outcomes in adolescence independent of other childhood adversities. OBJECTIVES The objectives of this study were to examine the associations between lifetime experiences of spanking on the bottom and/or slapping on the hand and 3 adolescent outcomes: (a) mental health disorders, (b) physical health conditions, and (c) defiant behaviors, after adjusting for other types of childhood adversities and child maltreatment. METHODS Cross-sectional data from the provincially representative 2014 Ontario Child Health Study (N = 6,537 dwellings, response rate = 50.8%) were used. The current study focused on one selected child aged 14 to 17 years within a household (n = 1,883) with data collected from the adolescent and the parent/caregiver. Logistic regression models were used to identify associations with lifetime experiences of spanking/slapping 3 or more times (vs. 0 to 2 times). RESULTS Lifetime spanking/slapping was independently associated with increased odds of mental health disorders, physical health conditions, and defiant behaviors in adolescence after adjusting for childhood adversities and child maltreatment (unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios ranging from 1.29 to 2.19). CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that lifetime spanking/slapping is uniquely associated with harmful mental, physical, and behavioral outcomes in adolescence, and efforts should focus on its prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janique Fortier
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | | | - Samantha Salmon
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Harriet L MacMillan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Andrea Gonzalez
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Melissa Kimber
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Laura Duncan
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.,Offord Centre for Child Studies, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tamara Taillieu
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Isabel Garces Davila
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Shannon Struck
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Tracie O Afifi
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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Abstract
This article reviews contemporary research on cross-cultural similarities and differences in parenting. The article begins by providing a definition of culture and how both parenting and culture can change over historical time. The article then presents some classic theoretical frameworks for understanding culture and parenting before considering why parenting may be similar across cultures and why parenting may be different across cultures. The article next turns to a review of cross-cultural similarities and differences in several aspects of parenting, including physical caregiving, cognitive stimulation, warmth and acceptance, control and monitoring, and discipline. Cultural normativeness and beliefs on the legitimacy of parental authority are then considered as potential moderators that contribute to cross-cultural similarities and differences in relations between parenting and child outcomes. The article then considers implications for parenting interventions and laws and policies related to parenting. Finally, the article suggests directions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer E. Lansford
- Duke University, Center for Child and Family Policy, Box 90545, Durham, NC 27708, USA
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9
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Afifi TO, Salmon S, Stewart-tufescu A, Taillieu T, Fortier J, Macmillan H, Durrant J, Holden GW. Associations between spanking beliefs and reported spanking among adolescents-parent/caregiver dyads in a Canadian sample. BMC Public Health 2022; 22. [PMID: 35279124 PMCID: PMC8918334 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-12856-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Research consistently demonstrates that physical punishment of children including “spanking” is harmful. Interest in effective prevention is growing rapidly. The aim of the current study is to examine spanking beliefs among adolescents and parents in relation to reports of spanking that the adolescents experienced before 11 years of age. Methods Data were drawn from Wave 1 of a study conducted in 2017–2018 that included adolescents (14–17 years old) and one of their parents/caregivers from Manitoba, Canada (n = 1000 pairs). The study objectives were to examine: 1) spanking beliefs of adolescents and their parents; 2) the correlation between parent and adolescent spanking beliefs; 3) whether parents perceive the words “spank” vs. “hit” differently using intraclass correlation; 4) the association between parents’ beliefs about spanking and parent- and adolescent-reported use of it; and 5) the relationship between sociodemographic variables and spanking. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Spearman’s correlation, intraclass correlation, and binary and multinomial logistic regression analyses. Results The prevalence of adolescent-reported and parents’-reported spanking were 46.0% and 39.6%, respectively. The proportions agreeing that spanking is a normal part of parenting were similar among adolescents (22.0%) and parents (18.5%), and were moderately correlated (intraclass correlation = 0.38, SE = 0.038). More than five times as many parents believed that “spanking” is necessary (19.5%) than believed that “hitting” is necessary (3.5%). Parents’ positive spanking beliefs were associated with increased likelihood of adolescent- and parent-reported spanking. Few significant associations were found between sociodemographic variables and parent-reported or adolescent-reported spanking. Conclusions Adolescents’ spanking beliefs are related to their parents’ spanking beliefs, suggesting that they are transmitted across generations. Public education and law reform are needed to decrease the normalization and perceived necessity of spanking in child-rearing. Efforts should include improving the understanding that spanking is a form of violence against children. With only a few significant differences noted between sociodemographic variables and parent- and adolescent- reported spanking and the prevalent use of spanking across all sociodemographic variable categories, it may be useful to develop universal approaches to awareness-raising and implementation of education strategies in Canada.
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Antwi-Boasiako K, Fallon B, King B, Trocmé N, Fluke J. Understanding the overrepresentation of Black children in Ontario's child welfare system: Perspectives from child welfare workers and community service providers. Child Abuse Negl 2022; 123:105425. [PMID: 34890960 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The overrepresentation of Black children in the child welfare system is a social problem that has received longstanding attention in the United States, but has recently received increasing attention in Canada. OBJECTIVE This qualitative study explores the findings of two quantitative studies (Antwi-Boasiako et al., 2020, 2021) in order to interpret them through the perspectives of child welfare workers and community service providers. The aim is to gain a deeper understanding on the potential factors that contribute to the overrepresentation of Black children in Ontario's child welfare system. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING The study involved twenty-one child welfare workers from two child welfare organizations in Ontario serving lots of Black families and thirteen community service providers in Toronto. METHODS Six focus groups were completed with thirty-four participants. Each of the focus groups was audio recorded and manually transcribed verbatim. Constant comparison analysis was used to analyze the transcribed data. RESULTS Themes that emerged from the study include the following concerns: racism and bias from referral sources; racism and bias from child welfare workers; lack of cultural sensitivity; lack of workforce diversity/training; lack of culturally appropriate resources; assessment tools; duty to report; fear of liability; lack of collaboration; and poverty. CONCLUSIONS The results from this study reinforce the need to shift practice that acknowledges Black families as valuable stakeholders and experts of their own lives and involves them in the development and implementation of policies and practices that affect them.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Barbara Fallon
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Canada.
| | - Bryn King
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Canada.
| | - Nico Trocmé
- School of Social Work, McGill University, Canada.
| | - John Fluke
- Kempe Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect, University of Colorado, United States.
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11
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Abstract
Abstract. Despite corporal punishment being associated with negative developmental outcomes for children, it is commonly practiced in Malaysian courts, schools, and homes. This study examined the relationships among the Dark Tetrad personality traits (Machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy, sadism), anger rumination, and attitudes toward corporal punishment of children. Two hundred sixty-three participants from a university and community sample in Malaysia completed measures of attitudes toward child corporal punishment, the Short Dark Tetrad, and the Anger Rumination Scale. Participants also answered questions about whether they received corporal punishment at home and school as children. Correlation analyses showed that Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and sadism were positively associated with acceptance of corporal punishment. Further regression analyses revealed that having received corporal punishment at home – but not at school – during childhood as well as trait Machiavellianism and sadism predicted accepting attitudes toward corporal punishment. Identifying factors that influence people’s attitudes regarding corporal punishment and discipline behaviors could yield new insights into parenting education programs and policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Li Chung
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading Malaysia, Johor, Malaysia
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, UK
| | - Cheng Ean Tay
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading Malaysia, Johor, Malaysia
| | - Adeline Zhi Qian Gan
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading Malaysia, Johor, Malaysia
| | - Celine Shi Ning Tan
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading Malaysia, Johor, Malaysia
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Duong HT, Monahan JL, Mercer Kollar LM, Klevens J. Identifying knowledge, self-efficacy and response efficacy of alternative discipline strategies among low-income Black, Latino and White parents. Health Educ Res 2021; 36:192-205. [PMID: 33447855 PMCID: PMC8043958 DOI: 10.1093/her/cyaa053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Corporal punishment (CP) leads to detrimental mental and physical consequences for a child. One way to prevent CP is to encourage parents to apply alternative discipline strategies that do not involve violence. Based on the knowledge-behavior gap framework in public health education, this study analyzed the focus group data of 75 low-income Black, Latino and White parents to uncover commonalties and differences in their knowledge, self-efficacy and response efficacy of alternative discipline strategies. Findings revealed that parents knew several alternative discipline strategies and had confidence in their ability to conduct these strategies. However, parents reported that some strategies were hard to implement because they lacked the relevant resources. Moreover, parents did not perceive that alternative discipline strategies were effective without using some forms of CP. Knowledge, self-efficacy and response efficacy of alternative discipline strategies are risk factors for child physical abuse and addressing them will help prevent injury and health impacts on children, while providing safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments for child development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hue Trong Duong
- Department of Communication, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jennifer L. Monahan
- Department of Communication Studies, Franklin College of the Arts and Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Laura M. Mercer Kollar
- Division of Violence Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Joanne Klevens
- Division of Violence Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
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13
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Durrant JE, Stewart-tufescu A, Ateah C, Holden GW, Ahmed R, Jones A, Ly G, Plateau DP, Mori I. Addressing punitive violence against children in Australia, Japan and the Philippines. Journal of Pacific Rim Psychology 2020; 14:e19. [DOI: 10.1017/prp.2020.12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Physical and emotional punishment of children is highly prevalent in the Asia-Pacific region. These actions predict a range of physical and emotional harms, prompting a worldwide effort to eliminate them. A key strategy in this effort is to change parental beliefs regarding the acceptability of physical and emotional punishment. The Positive Discipline in Everyday Parenting (PDEP) program was designed to change those beliefs by teaching parents about child development and strengthening their problem-solving skills. A sample of 377 parents in the Asia-Pacific region completed the program: 329 mothers and 47 fathers of children ranging in age from infancy to adolescence. The parents lived in Australia ( n = 135), Japan ( n = 172) or the Philippines ( n = 70). In all three countries, parents’ approval of punishment in general, and physical punishment specifically, declined and they became less likely to attribute typical child behavior to intentional misbehavior. By the end of the program, at least 75% of parents in each country felt better prepared to respond nonviolently to conflict with their children.
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14
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Abstract
The current study investigates the role of race and county characteristics in substantiation and out-of-home placement decisions in the United States. Using multilevel models, we analyzed data from counties in the United States available through the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data Systems and Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System to investigate the interactions between children's race and the context in which they live. Our sample consisted exclusively of children whose cases had been investigated; therefore, we were able to focus on the role played by race and county characteristics in substantiation and out-of-home placement decisions made by Child Protective Services, net of the heightened risk factors (or potential biases) that lead to disparate rates of reporting. Adjusting for state and county of investigation, Black, American Indian/Alaskan Native, and multiracial children were more likely than White (non-Hispanic) children to be substantiated or placed out of home, whereas Asian children were less likely to be substantiated or placed out of home. Notably, differences across groups are far smaller in magnitude when demographic and geographic differences are taken into account. Higher county-level poverty, percentages of Black residents, and juvenile arrest rates were associated with lower odds of substantiation and out-of-home placement among investigated children, whereas an elevated percentage of single-headed households was associated with higher odds of both outcomes. We also found that living in a rural county was associated with greater odds of substantiation but lower odds of out-of-home placement. Important differences by race were found for these associations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah A Font
- Department of Sociology and Criminology, The Pennsylvania State University
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15
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Klevens J, Kollar LM, Rizzo G, O’Shea G, Nguyen J, Roby S. Commonalities and Differences in Social Norms Related to Corporal Punishment Among Black, Latino and White Parents. Child Adolesc Social Work J 2019; 36:19-28. [PMID: 32327878 PMCID: PMC7177180 DOI: 10.1007/s10560-018-0591-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
To establish commonalities and differences in social norms related to corporal punishment among Black, Latino, and White parents, we first examine survey data from a random sample of a nationally representative opt-in internet panel (n = 2500) to establish the frequency of corporal punishment among parents of children under five (n = 540) and their perceptions of the frequency of use of corporal punishment in their community and whether they ought to use corporal punishment. We disaggregate by race/ethnicity and education to identify higher risk groups. To better understand the beliefs underlying these perceptions among the higher risk group (i.e., less educated), we used a grounded theory approach to analyze data from 13 focus groups (n = 75) segmented by race/ethnicity (i.e., Black, Latino, or White), gender (i.e., mothers or fathers), and population density (i.e., rural or urban). Survey findings revealed that 63% of parents spanked, albeit the majority seldom or sometimes. Spanking was most frequent among Latinos (73%) and lowest among White parents (59%). While all participants across racial/ethnic groups believed the majority of parents spanked, even more than the proportion that actually do, about half believed they ought to spank. Perceptions of the frequency and acceptability of corporal punishment were associated with use of corporal punishment. The qualitative findings highlight more similarities than differences across Black, Latino, and White communities. The findings suggest social norms change efforts might focus on parents with less education and influencing perceptions around whether they ought to spank.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanne Klevens
- Division of Violence Prevention, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, NE, Mailstop F63, Atlanta, GA 30341,
USA
| | - Laura Mercer Kollar
- Division of Violence Prevention, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, NE, Mailstop F63, Atlanta, GA 30341,
USA
| | - Genevieve Rizzo
- Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta,
GA, USA
| | - Gerad O’Shea
- Applied Curiosity Research, Long Island City, NY, USA
| | | | - Sarah Roby
- Division of Violence Prevention, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, NE, Mailstop F63, Atlanta, GA 30341,
USA
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16
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Barajas-Gonzalez RG, Calzada E, Huang KY, Covas M, Castillo CM, Brotman L. Parent Spanking and Verbal Punishment, and Young Child Internalizing and Externalizing Behaviors in Latino Immigrant Families: Test of Moderation by Context and Culture. Parent Sci Pract 2018; 18:219-242. [PMID: 38130402 PMCID: PMC10735234 DOI: 10.1080/15295192.2018.1524242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Objective This study examined the prevalence and correlates of spanking and verbal punishment in a community sample of Latino immigrant families with young children, as well as the association of spanking and verbal punishment with child internalizing and externalizing problems 1 year later. Parenting context (e.g., warmth) and cultural context (e.g., the cultural value of respeto) are considered as potential moderators. Design Parenting and cultural socialization practices were assessed via parent self-report in sample of 633 Mexican and Dominican immigrant families with young children (M age = 4.43 years). Parent and teacher assessments of child internalizing and externalizing were also collected at baseline and 12 months later. Results At Time 1, male child gender was positively correlated with concurrent spanking; familial social support and U.S. American cultural knowledge were negatively correlated with mothers' spanking. Verbal punishment at Time 1 was associated with externalizing problems at Time 2 among both Mexican and Dominican American children, and this relation was not moderated. Additionally, verbal punishment was associated with Time 2 child internalizing problems among Mexican American children. There were no significant associations between spanking and later child internalizing or externalizing behaviors. Conclusion It is important that researchers examine both physical and verbal discipline strategies to understand their unique influences on Latino child outcomes, as well as contextual influences that may elucidate the use and long-term effects of spanking and verbal punishment on Latino children at different developmental stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Gabriela Barajas-Gonzalez
- Center for Early Childhood Health and Development, Department of Population Health (CEHD), NYU School of Medicine, 227 East 30 Street, NY, NY 10016.
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Hayes BE, O'Neal EN. The effects of individual- and national-level factors on attitudes toward child maltreatment. Child Abuse Negl 2018; 83:83-93. [PMID: 30025307 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2017] [Revised: 06/21/2018] [Accepted: 07/08/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Knowledge is lacking regarding the extent to which national norms and policies designed to protect minors influence individual attitudes toward child maltreatment. Relying on the tenets of cultural sociology, we examine whether the orientation of a nation influences individual attitudes toward child maltreatment. Specifically, nations with greater economic and political stability tolerate more self-expressive values, focusing on individual autonomy and enhancing quality of life. Conversely, nations with a survivalist orientation, often characterized by greater economic uncertainty, are less supportive of behaviors that may result in further instability. The current study builds on extant research by investigating the effects of national norms and policies and individual-level attitudes and characteristics on individual attitudes toward child maltreatment (N = 66,391) in 53 developing and developed nations. We analyze data from the World Values Survey using Hierarchical Generalized Linear Modeling. Overall, countries with a greater survivalist orientation appear less tolerant of child maltreatment. Moreover, greater support for violence in general at both the national- and individual-level are associated with more supportive attitudes toward child maltreatment. Policy implications and legislative reform are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany E Hayes
- Sam Houston State University, Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, 816 17th Street Huntsville, TX, 77340, USA.
| | - Eryn Nicole O'Neal
- Sam Houston State University, Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, 816 17th Street Huntsville, TX, 77340, USA.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess United States pediatricians' attitudes, beliefs, and perceived professional injunctive norms regarding spanking. METHOD A self-administered questionnaire was mailed to a nationwide random sample of 1500 pediatricians in the US, drawn from a database maintained by IMS Health. Four survey mailings were conducted and cash incentives of up to $20 were provided. The response rate was 53% (N = 787). RESULTS Most respondents were members of the American Academy of Pediatrics (85%), had been practicing physicians for 15 years or more (66%), and were white (69%) and female (59%). All US regions were represented. About 3-quarters of pediatricians did not support the use of spanking, and most perceived that their colleagues did not support its use either. Pediatricians who were male, black, and/or sometimes spanked as children had more positive attitudes toward spanking and expected more positive outcomes from spanking than their counterparts. Nearly 80% of pediatricians never or seldom expected positive outcomes from spanking, and a majority (64%) expected negative outcomes some of the time. CONCLUSION The majority of pediatricians in the US do not support the use of spanking with children and are aware of the empirical evidence linking spanking with increased risk of poor health outcomes for children. Pediatricians are a key, trusted professional source in advising parents about child discipline. These findings suggest that most pediatricians will discourage the use of spanking with children, which over time could reduce its use and associated harms in the population. This is of clinical relevance because, despite strong and consistent evidence of the harms that spanking raises for children, spanking is still broadly accepted and practiced in the US.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine A Taylor
- Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA
| | - Julia M Fleckman
- Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA
| | - Seth J Scholer
- Department of Pediatrics, Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital and Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Nelson Branco
- Tamalpais Pediatrics, Larkspur, CA and University of California, San Francisco, CA
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Smith BD, Kay ES, Pressley TD. Child maltreatment in rural southern counties: Another perspective on race, poverty and child welfare. Child Abuse Negl 2018; 80:52-61. [PMID: 29567457 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2017] [Revised: 03/04/2018] [Accepted: 03/10/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Building on research that has identified community characteristics associated with child maltreatment, this study investigates the adequacy and equity of the child welfare response at the county level. The study focuses on states in the U.S. south with demographic characteristics that make it possible to disentangle county racial composition from county rurality. County-level child maltreatment data were merged with data from the U.S. Census and other publicly-available sources for the 354 counties in four southern states. Results from multiple regression models indicated that, despite a greater preponderance of risk factors typically associated with child maltreatment, rural, majority African-American counties had lower rates of reported and substantiated child maltreatment compared to other southern counties. Cross-sectional results were consistent across three years: 2012, 2013, and 2014. The findings suggest that children and families in rural, majority African-American counties in the South may not be receiving adequate or equitable responses from the formal child welfare system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenda D Smith
- University of Alabama, School of Social Work, Box 870314, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, United States.
| | - Emma Sophia Kay
- University of Alabama, School of Social Work, Box 870314, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, United States
| | - Tracy D Pressley
- University of Alabama, School of Social Work, Box 870314, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, United States
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20
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Brush BL, Gultekin LE, Dowdell EB, Saint Arnault DM, Satterfield K. Understanding Trauma Normativeness, Normalization, and Help Seeking in Homeless Mothers. Violence Against Women 2017; 24:1523-1539. [DOI: 10.1177/1077801217738583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Although trauma-informed approaches guide services to families experiencing homelessness, more emphasis is placed on securing housing than addressing underlying trauma contributing to housing instability. Examining the stories of 29 homeless and/or unstably housed mothers within the broader literature on family trauma and violence, chronic illness, and cultural aspects of family functioning, we define the process of trauma normativeness and normalization that may occur with repeated trauma experiences and argue that rehousing efforts must include concomitant attention to trauma and to understanding how individual, family, community, and cultural factors influence help-seeking behaviors in this vulnerable and growing population.
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21
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Holden GW, Hawk CK, Smith MM, Singh J, Ashraf R. Disciplinary Practices, Metaparenting, and the Quality of Parent-Child Relationships in African-American, Mexican-American, and European-American Mothers. Int J Behav Dev 2017; 41:482-490. [PMID: 28943685 DOI: 10.1177/0165025416687414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Coercive responses to children's behavior are well recognized to be problematic for children's adjustment. Less well understood is how parental social cognition is linked to discipline. In this study we sought to link metaparenting - parents' thoughts about their parenting - to the use of coercive discipline. We predicted that mothers who engaged in more metaparenting, thus reflecting more deliberate parenting, would use corporal punishment less frequently and instead engage in non-coercive discipline. We also expected that mothers who engaged in more metaparenting would report closer relationships with their children. In order to assess a diverse sample, data were collected from approximately equal numbers of African-American, European-American, and Mexican-American mothers. Participants included 113 mothers with target children in three age groups, ranging from 2 to 12 years. The results indicated reports of corporal punishment as well as non-coercive discipline did not significantly differ across child sex and child age groups, but did differ significantly across race/ethnicity. Reports of frequency of metaparenting also differed across racial/ethnic groups; African-American mothers reported more metaparenting than European-American mothers on three of four subscales. Metaparenting was significantly related to reports of the mother-child relationship but in the opposite direction than predicted. Based on these results, future research directions linking parental social cognition to discipline are proposed.
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22
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Santini PM, Williams LCA. A randomized controlled trial of an intervention program to Brazilian mothers who use corporal punishment. Child Abuse Negl 2017; 71:80-91. [PMID: 28506540 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2017.04.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2016] [Revised: 04/22/2017] [Accepted: 04/23/2017] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
This study evaluated a positive parenting program to Brazilian mothers who used corporal punishment with their children. The intervention was conducted in four agencies serving vulnerable children, and at a home replica laboratory at the University. Mothers who admitted using corporal punishment were randomly assigned between experimental (n=20) and control group (n=20). The program consisted of 12 individual sessions using one unit from Projeto Parceria (Partnership Project), with specific guidelines and materials on positive parenting, followed by observational sessions of mother-child interaction with live coaching and a video feedback session in the lab. The study used an equivalent group experimental design with pre/post-test and follow-up, in randomized controlled trials. Measures involved: Initial Interview; Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) - parent and child versions; Beck Depression Inventory (BDI); observational sessions with a protocol; and a Program Evaluation by participants. Analysis of mixed models for repeated measures revealed significant positive effects on the BDI and SDQ total scores, as well as less Conduct problems and Hyperactivity in SDQ measures from the experimental group mothers, comparing pre with post-test. Observational data also indicated significant improvement in positive interaction from the experimental group mothers at post-test, in comparison with controls. No significant results were found, however, in children's observational measures. Limitations of the study involved using a restricted sample, among others. Implications for future research are suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolla Magioni Santini
- Universidade Federal de São Carlos (Federal University of São Carlos), Department of Psychology, Laprev (The Laboratory for Violence Analysis & Prevention), Rodovia Washington Luís, Km 235 - SP-310, CEP 13565-905, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
| | - Lucia C A Williams
- Universidade Federal de São Carlos (Federal University of São Carlos), Department of Psychology, Laprev (The Laboratory for Violence Analysis & Prevention), Rodovia Washington Luís, Km 235 - SP-310, CEP 13565-905, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
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23
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Taylor CA, Fleckman JM, Lee SJ. Attitudes, beliefs, and perceived norms about corporal punishment and related training needs among members of the "American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children". Child Abuse Negl 2017; 71:56-68. [PMID: 28457581 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2017.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2016] [Revised: 03/29/2017] [Accepted: 04/10/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Hitting children for disciplinary purposes (i.e., spanking or corporal punishment [CP]) is a strong risk factor for child physical abuse and is highly prevalent in the U.S. Yet, little is currently known about the relevant attitudes, beliefs, or training needs of key professionals who often advise parents regarding child discipline strategies. A survey of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (APSAC) membership, comprised of mental health professionals, physicians, child welfare professionals, and other professionals in the child maltreatment field, was conducted to assess attitudes, beliefs, perceived norms, training needs, and motivations to change norms regarding CP (N=571, response rate=51%). Most respondents agreed that spanking is a bad disciplinary technique (82%), is harmful for children (74%), and leads to negative outcomes (M=3.0, SD=0.6) more frequently than positive outcomes (M=2.1, SD=0.6; t=20.8; p<0.0001) for children. Professionals reported perceiving that their colleagues' level of endorsement of CP (M=2.4, SD=1.0) was higher than their own (M=1.9, SD=1.0; t(568)=-10.7, p<0.0001) though still below the midpoint. Professionals reported high levels of preparedness to effectively advise parents on non-physical child discipline strategies, but reported perceiving lower levels of preparedness amongst their colleagues. They reported highly valuing giving such advice to parents and being very motivated to participate in activities designed to change social norms regarding CP. Most APSAC members are poised to change these norms and, in doing so, to help reduce rates of child physical abuse in the U.S.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine A Taylor
- Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, United States.
| | - Julia M Fleckman
- Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, United States
| | - Shawna J Lee
- University of Michigan, School of Social Work, United States
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24
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A Font
- Department of Sociology and Criminology, Child Maltreatment Solutions Network, Pennsylvania State University, 505 Oswald Tower, University Park, PA 16801
| | - Elizabeth T Gershoff
- Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Texas at Austin
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25
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Perrin R, Miller-Perrin C, Song J. Changing attitudes about spanking using alternative biblical interpretations. International Journal of Behavioral Development 2017. [DOI: 10.1177/0165025416673295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Social scientists are generally in agreement that spanking is not an especially effective method of discipline and is associated with a variety of behavioral and mental health problems in children. Interventions that have focused on disseminating this empirical research have met with some success in changing pro-spanking attitudes. However, given the strong connection between conservative Christian religious orientation and pro-spanking attitudes and behaviors, many conservative Christians may not be compelled by the empirical research. The current study examined the effectiveness of two interventions: an empirical research intervention that focused on the empirical evidence of the ineffectiveness and potential harm of spanking, and a religion intervention that provided a progressive interpretation of biblical passages that are sometimes used by Christians to justify spanking. A sample of 121 college students (87% female; 34% male; Mage = 20) attending a private, Christian, liberal arts university were randomly assigned to one of three intervention conditions: 1) Research Only, 2) Research and Religion, and 3) Control. Four weeks prior to the intervention sessions, students completed a demographic form and the Attitudes Toward Spanking (ATS) scale. Following the intervention, students completed the ATS scale a second time. Repeated measures ANOVA indicated a significant Time × Condition interaction for ATS scores, indicating that ATS scores decreased in both the Research Only condition ( Mpre = 40.56, Mpost = 37.03) and the Research and Religion condition ( Mpre = 41.23; Mpost = 33.29) but not the Control condition ( Mpre = 40.17; Mpost = 40.78), F(2, 78) = 10.03, p = .001. Subsequent analyses indicated that ATS scores in both intervention conditions decreased compared to the control condition and that a greater decrease in favorable attitudes toward spanking was observed for the Research and Religion condition compared to the Research Only condition.
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26
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Chiocca EM. American Parents' Attitudes and Beliefs About Corporal Punishment: An Integrative Literature Review. J Pediatr Health Care 2017; 31:372-383. [PMID: 28202205 DOI: 10.1016/j.pedhc.2017.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2016] [Revised: 01/04/2017] [Accepted: 01/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Research on American parents' beliefs about the use of corporal punishment (CP) shows widespread approval of this child-rearing practice. This review integrated 25 research articles to gain a better understanding of what American parents believe about the use of CP as a method of child-rearing, where they get their information about CP, and if American parents' beliefs about CP translate to the actual use of CP. The results showed that the main factors that influence a parent's endorsement of CP is the belief that CP is normative and expected when raising a child; is a necessary part of parenting, even for infants; and that certain stressors involving interactions between the parent, child, and environment can elicit the use of CP. Further research is needed to determine what methods are effective in changing parents' attitudes and beliefs about the use of CP.
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Taylor CA, McKasson S, Hoy G, DeJong W. Parents' Primary Professional Sources of Parenting Advice Moderate Predictors of Parental Attitudes toward Corporal Punishment. J Child Fam Stud 2017; 26:652-663. [PMID: 28529440 PMCID: PMC5435377 DOI: 10.1007/s10826-016-0586-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Despite the risk it poses to children's mental and physical health, approval and use of corporal punishment (CP) remains high in the United States. Informed by the Theory of Planned Behavior, we examined potential predictors of attitudes supportive of CP while assessing the moderating effects of parents' (N=500) chosen primary professional source of advice regarding child discipline: pediatricians (47.8%), religious leaders (20.8%), mental health professionals (MHPs) (n=18.4%), or other identified professionals (13.0%). We conducted a random-digit-dial telephone survey among parents ages 18 and over within New Orleans, LA. The main outcome measure was derived from the Attitudes Toward Spanking scale (ATS). The main "predictors" were: perceived injunctive norms (i.e., perceived approval of CP by professionals; and by family and friends), perceived descriptive norms of family and friends regarding CP, and expected outcomes of CP use. We used multivariate OLS models to regress ATS scores on the predictor variables for each subset of parents based on their chosen professional source of advice. Perceived approval of CP by professionals was the strongest predictor of parental attitudes supportive of CP, except for those seeking advice from MHPs. Perceived injunctive and descriptive norms of family and friends were important, but only for those seeking advice from pediatricians or religious leaders. Positive expected outcomes of CP mattered, but only for those seeking advice from religious leaders or MHPs. In conclusion, the strength and relevance of variables predicting attitudes toward CP varied according to the professional from which the parent was most likely to seek advice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine A Taylor
- Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA
| | - Sarah McKasson
- Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA
| | - Guenevere Hoy
- Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA
| | - William DeJong
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA
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Block SD, Poplin AB, Wang E, Widaman KF, Runyan DK. Variation in Acceptable Child Discipline Practices by Child Age: Perceptions of Community Norms by Medical and Legal Professionals. Behav Sci Law 2016; 34:95-112. [PMID: 27117603 PMCID: PMC5831380 DOI: 10.1002/bsl.2237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Mandated child abuse reporters may judge specific disciplinary practices as unacceptable for young children, whereas child law professionals arbitrating allegations may be less inclusive. Do the views of these groups diverge, by child age, regarding discipline? Judgments of community norms across a wide range of children's ages were obtained from 380 medical and legal professionals. Because the Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scale (PC-CTS) can be used to assess the epidemiology of child disciplinary behaviors and as a proxy to examine the incidence or prevalence of child abuse, the disciplinary practices described on the PC-CTS were presented as triggers for questions. Significant child age effects were found for disciplinary practices classified as "harsh." The consistencies between legal and medical professionals were striking. Both groups reflected changes in United States norms, as non-physical approaches were the most approved. We conclude that instruments estimating the prevalence of child maltreatment by parent-report should consider modifying how specific disciplinary practices are classified. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Eric Wang
- Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts, Lowell
| | - Keith F. Widaman
- Graduate School of Education, University of California, Riverside
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Sturge-Apple ML, Rogge RD, Peltz JS, Suor JH, Skibo MA. Delving Beyond Conscious Attitudes: Validation of an Innovative Tool for Assessing Parental Implicit Attitudes toward Physical Punishment. Infant Child Dev 2015; 24:240-255. [PMID: 26195917 PMCID: PMC4505379 DOI: 10.1002/icd.1903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Parenting scholars have long been interested in understanding the prevalence, determinants, and child outcomes associated with the use of physical discipline. To date, much of the empirical research in this area has utilized self-report measures to assess this construct. However, the subjective nature of participants' explicit reports presents an important confound to studying this issue. Thus, the overarching aim of this study was to provide the first test of an implicit assessment of physical discipline through using a Go/No-go Association Task (GNAT). A GNAT-Physical Discipline was developed and examined in two separate studies of mothers and their 2-3 year old child. One study was conducted in an online format and the second within a laboratory design. Across both studies, findings suggested that the GNAT-Physical Discipline distinguished between positive and negative implicit attitudes towards the use of physical discipline. In addition, negative implicit attitudes were uniquely linked to maternal reports of physical discipline when compared to other discipline practices. Results suggest the potential for the GNAT paradigm in research on parental attitudes around the use of physical discipline in parenting contexts. In addition, our use of an online format (with implicit assessments of key constructs) demonstrates that child and family researchers may be able to explore their hypotheses in larger, geographically diverse samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa L Sturge-Apple
- Department of Clinical and Social Sciences in Psychology, University of Rochester; Rochester, New York
| | - Ronald D Rogge
- Department of Clinical and Social Sciences in Psychology, University of Rochester; Rochester, New York
| | - Jack S Peltz
- Department of Clinical and Social Sciences in Psychology, University of Rochester; Rochester, New York
| | - Jennifer H Suor
- Department of Clinical and Social Sciences in Psychology, University of Rochester; Rochester, New York
| | - Michael A Skibo
- Department of Clinical and Social Sciences in Psychology, University of Rochester; Rochester, New York
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Holden GW, Brown AS, Baldwin AS, Croft Caderao K. Research findings can change attitudes about corporal punishment. Child Abuse Negl 2014; 38:902-8. [PMID: 24246718 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2013.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2013] [Revised: 10/14/2013] [Accepted: 10/16/2013] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Positive attitudes toward the use of corporal punishment (CP) predict subsequent spanking behavior. Given that CP has frequently been associated with behavior problems in children and child maltreatment, this prevention work was designed to test whether adults' attitudes could be changed by informing participants about the research findings on problematic behaviors associated with CP. Two random assignment studies are reported. In Study 1, we tested whether an active reading condition would result in more attitude change than a passive condition. With a sample of 118 non-parent adults, we found that after reading very brief research summaries on the problems associated with CP, there was a significant decrease in favorable attitudes toward CP. Contrary to expectations, the magnitude of the change was comparable for active and passive processing conditions. In Study 2, we extended our approach to a sample of 520 parents and included a control group. A significant decrease in positive attitudes toward spanking was observed in the intervention group, but no change for the control group. Parents who were unaware of the research showed more change after reading the summaries. Thus, these studies demonstrate that a brief and cost-effective approach to raise awareness of research findings can reduce positive attitudes toward CP. Implications for prevention and intervention are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- George W Holden
- Department of Psychology, Southern Methodist University, USA.
| | - Alan S Brown
- Department of Psychology, Southern Methodist University, USA
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Coley RL, Kull MA, Carrano J. Parental endorsement of spanking and children's internalizing and externalizing problems in African American and Hispanic families. J Fam Psychol 2014; 28:22-31. [PMID: 24364363 PMCID: PMC3956060 DOI: 10.1037/a0035272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
This study assessed prospective, bidirectional associations between maternal endorsement of spanking and children's internalizing and externalizing behavior problems in low-income urban African American and Hispanic (N = 592) families drawn from the Three City Study. Children in sample families were followed from early childhood through middle childhood with 3 sets of interviews and assessments at ages 3, 4, and 9 years. Cross-lagged path analyses tested longitudinal bidirectional associations between parental endorsement of spanking and children's internalizing and externalizing problems, with multigroup comparisons employed to test group differences between race/ethnic groups. African American and Hispanic mothers showed similar endorsements of spanking. Results suggest that associations between spanking endorsement and child functioning were due primarily to parenting effects, with spanking predicting changes in children's behaviors, rather than child evocative effects, with limited evidence of child behaviors predicting changes in parental spanking. Maternal spanking endorsement predicted short-term decreases in children's internalizing problems in early childhood, but over the longer term spanking was associated with increased internalizing and externalizing problems for both African American and Hispanic children in middle childhood among economically disadvantaged families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebekah Levine Coley
- Applied Developmental & Educational Psychology, Boston College, Campion Hall 239A, 140 Commonwealth Ave, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467. Phone: 617.552.6018. Fax: 617.552.1981.
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Trocmé N, Fallon B, Sinha V, Van Wert M, Kozlowski A, Maclaurin B. Differentiating between child protection and family support in the Canadian child welfare system's response to intimate partner violence, corporal punishment, and child neglect. Int J Psychol 2013; 48:128-40. [PMID: 23597012 DOI: 10.1080/00207594.2013.765571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Rates of reported child maltreatment nearly doubled in Canada over the period 1998-2003, an increase that reflects growing awareness of the harmful effects of an expanding array of parental behaviors, including corporal punishment, lack of supervision, and exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV). Some of these situations may benefit from voluntary family support programs outside of the child welfare system. Analyzing a sample of 11,807 investigations, this paper compares cases where the sole concern is exposure to IPV, or hitting a child, or neglect, or other forms of investigated maltreatment. Situations where exposure to IPV or potentially abusive hitting were the sole reason for investigation presented with fewer risk factors and were less likely to lead to ongoing child welfare interventions compared to other maltreatment investigations. While situations involving alleged neglect presented a higher risk profile and elicited a more intensive child welfare response than did exposure to IPV or hitting, opportunities for alternative services were nevertheless identified. The study also found that visible minority families were overrepresented in cases involving hitting and that Aboriginal families were overrepresented in cases involving neglect. Overall the findings support the development of alternative response programs in Canada.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nico Trocmé
- Centre of Research on Children and Families, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
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