Does corporal punishment erode the quality of the mother–child interaction in early childhood?

Abstract

Corporal punishment is believed to exert its influence partially on children's externalizing behavior by undermining the quality of parent‐child relationships, but empirical evidence for this belief is lacking. Thus, the goal of this study was to explore longitudinally whether the use of corporal punishment by mothers was associated with declining quality in parent‐child interactions and whether these declines mediated the links between corporal punishment and later externalizing behavior. Based on data from the NIHCD SECCYD, the findings from this study indicated that the links between the quality of parent‐child interaction and corporal punishment were bidirectional: high quality parent‐child interaction was associated with less use of subsequent corporal punishment by mothers, and maternal use of corporal punishment at 36 months was associated with declines in the quality of parent‐child interaction at 54 months. There were not significant indirect effects of corporal punishment at 36 months on grade 3 aggression through 54 month parent‐child interaction quality, however, which suggests other mechanisms might account for the links between early corporal punishment and later externalizing problems.

Physical punishment and child outcomes: a narrative review of prospective studies

“…In 13 of the 19 independent samples, physical punishment was associated with increases in externalising behaviour over time. [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28]30,[33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42] In three independent samples, no associations were identified. 29,[43][44][45] Mixed findings were reported in another three independent samples 31,32,46 .…”

Towards a Multisystem, Strength-Based Model of Social Inequities in US Latinx Youth

“…Parental warmth plays a primary role in the socialization of empathic concern and youth self-regulation because parents' positive emotional expression and connection with their youth foster a sense of security and an orientation toward the needs of others (Janssens & Gerris, 1992). On the other hand, harsh, coercive and uninvolved parents can disrupt parent-youth relationships and impede positive development (Laible et al, 2019). Harsh parenting, including corporal punishment and harsh discipline, of youth has been consistently linked to lower levels of prosocial behaviors (Halgunseth et al, 2006).…”

Examiner les Résultats Relatifs aux Pratiques Parentales et les Facteurs Prédicteurs issus du Programme Positive Discipline in Everyday Parenting (PDEP)

“…D'autres études expérimentales ont validé ces résultats (Font & Cage, 2018 ;MacKenzie et al 2012). Laible et al (2019) ont observé, de façon longitudinale, si la relation entre la punition physique et la qualité de la relation parent-enfant était bidirectionnelle et si la baisse de qualité de la relation parent-enfant pouvait servir comme médiateur entre la relation de l'utilisation de la punition physique et les comportements d'externalisations de l'enfant. Ils ont utilisé les données issues d'une enquête longitudinale américaine d'enfants âgés de 36 puis de 54 mois ; Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Care (NICHD SECCYD), composée de 1,364 participants.…”

“…Ils ont utilisé les données issues d'une enquête longitudinale américaine d'enfants âgés de 36 puis de 54 mois ; Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Care (NICHD SECCYD), composée de 1,364 participants. Les résultats confirment que l'utilisation de la punition physique (la fessée), à l'âge de 36 mois est liée au déclin de la qualité de la relation parent-enfant à l'âge de 54 mois, par plus d'hostilité, moins de support dans l'autonomie de l'enfant et moins d'apport de sécurité (Laible et al 2019). Plus les parents punissent leurs enfants, plus ces derniers peuvent devenir hostiles et défier l'autorité poussant les parents à utiliser davantage la punition physique.…”

“…En résumé, ces études montrent que la punition physique n'a aucun bénéfice à moins d'apporter une obédience immédiate brève. Par contre, il y a beaucoup d'effets néfastes ; une augmentation de comportements d'externalisation et une baisse de qualité de relation parentenfant et de performance cognitive (Gershoff, 2002 ;Laible et al 2019 ;Straus & Paschall, 2009 ;Ward et al 2019 ;Zulauf et al 2017). Certains facteurs influencent l'usage de la punition physique tels que les attitudes envers la punition physique, la capacité de régulation émotionnelle parentale ainsi que les normes subjectives (Ateah & Durrant, 2005 ;Fabrizio et al 2015 ;Perron et al 2014 ;Shaffer et Obradovic, 2017 ;Slep & O'Leary, 1998).…”