Parental Harsh Discipline and Migrant Children’s Anxiety in China: The Moderating Role of Parental Warmth and Gender

Abstract

The present study examined the moderating effects of both parents’ warmth in the relations between parental harsh discipline (psychological aggression and corporal punishment) and migrant children’s anxiety and parent and child gender differences in the moderating mechanism in Chinese society. This study used a sample of 477 elementary school-age children and both their parents in Chinese migrant families. We constructed a Structural Equation Model to explore the relation between parental harsh discipline (psychological aggression and corporal punishment) and migrant children’s anxiety and the moderating role of parental warmth. Our findings revealed that maternal but not paternal psychological aggression was found to significantly predict boys’ anxiety. Moreover, maternal warmth exacerbated the relations between paternal corporal punishment and girls’ anxiety. The findings provide partial support for the “healthy context paradox” and highlight the importance of considering how the broader family emotional context may interact with parental harsh discipline to influence child adjustment.

Parental Psychological Aggression and Phubbing in Adolescents: A Moderated Mediation Model

“…37 However, there was no consistent conclusion with regard to the role of gender in the association between harsh discipline and anxiety. 38,39 Prior research revealed that internalizing behavior mediated the association between child maltreatment and externalizing behavior, while gender difference was found in this mediation model. 40 To best of our knowledge, no research has conducted to examine the sex difference in the mediation model regarding the impact of parental psychological aggression on phubbing via anxiety.…”

“…Although the similar discipline methods adopted by parents for girls and boys, they may differ on the reaction to punishment [ 37 ]. However, there was no consistent conclusion with regard to the role of gender in the association between harsh discipline and anxiety [ 38 , 39 ]. Prior research revealed that internalizing behavior mediated the association between child maltreatment and externalizing behavior, while gender difference was found in this mediation model [ 40 ].…”

Parental burnout and adolescents’ academic burnout: Roles of parental harsh discipline, psychological distress, and gender

“…Previous studies have found that parental harsh discipline and children's internalizing and externalizing problematic behavior may vary based on gender (Chang et al, 2003;Liu et al, 2022). According to the social role theory, society has distinct expectations on different genders, which are what make up gender roles (Eagly et al, 2000).…”

Parental harsh discipline and children’s anxiety in China: An examination of the moderating and mediating roles of teacher–student relationships and peer relationships.

“…Under the traditional Chinese view of parental harsh discipline, Chinese children may be less likely to view parental harsh discipline as rejection, and experience less anxiety. Nevertheless, in recent years, limited studies with Chinese families have shown that parental harsh discipline was associated with children's anxiety (Liu & Wang, 2020;Liu et al, 2022;, which suggested that even in the context of high acceptance of parental harsh discipline in China, children tend to be anxious after experiencing parental harsh discipline. Despite such progress, most research in this area in China is cross-sectional (Liu & Wang, 2020;Liu et al, 2022; M. , and little is known about the predictive effects of parental harsh discipline on Chinese children's anxiety.…”

“…Nevertheless, in recent years, limited studies with Chinese families have shown that parental harsh discipline was associated with children's anxiety (Liu & Wang, 2020;Liu et al, 2022;, which suggested that even in the context of high acceptance of parental harsh discipline in China, children tend to be anxious after experiencing parental harsh discipline. Despite such progress, most research in this area in China is cross-sectional (Liu & Wang, 2020;Liu et al, 2022; M. , and little is known about the predictive effects of parental harsh discipline on Chinese children's anxiety. Therefore, to provide evidence for early prevention and intervention for children's anxiety, it is necessary to pay attention to the predictive effects across time.…”