Attitudes, beliefs, and perceived norms about corporal punishment and related training needs among members of the “American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children”

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.

Afterword: Common themes and next steps.

“…There are a number of potential benefits to policy advocacy as a mechanism to shift behaviors and norms related to the use of physical punishment. One study of professionals in the field of child maltreatment prevention found most respondents agreed that physical punishment is harmful to children and leads to negative outcomes for children; however, in the same survey, respondents felt that their colleagues were more likely to endorse spanking than they were (Taylor, Fleckman, & Lee, 2017). In other words, many professionals perceive that their colleagues are more accepting of physical punishment than is actually the case.…”

Physical punishment of children by US parents: moving beyond debate to promote children’s health and well-being

“…Other recent surveys suggest that the majority of mental health professionals, as well as other professionals such as physicians and child welfare personnel, do not support the use of physical punishment. In one study, three-fourths of professionals believed that spanking is a "bad disciplinary technique" (Taylor, Fleckman, & Lee, 2017). In study of medical center staff, only about 15% agreed that "sometimes the only way to get a child to behave is with a spank."…”

Disciplinar con violencia a niños y niñas. Elaboración e implementación de una política pública en Uruguay: análisis de actores

“…El CF no intenta dañar a niños, niñas y adolescentes (nna), se utiliza para corregir o controlar su comportamiento, diferenciándose de esta forma del maltrato físico (Straus,1994). No obstante, se ha identificado que el CF es un importante factor de riesgo (Fleckman et al, 2019;Taylor et al, 2017) ya que puede llevar a situaciones de maltrato infantil, reconociendo entonces a la violencia como un continuo de conductas que van del CF al maltrato (Afifi et al, 2017;Gershoff, 2002). Entre los efectos adversos del CF en niños y niñas tenemos que se asocia con problemas internalizantes y externalizantes, conducta antisocial y agresión infantil (Gershoff y Grogan-Kaylor, 2016).…”