Consequences of parental corporal punishment on 12-year old children in the Colombo district

Piyanjali De Zoysa,Peter A Newcombe,Lalini Rajapakse

doi:10.4038/cmj.v53i1.218

Piyanjali De Zoysa, Peter A Newcombe + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4038/cmj.v53i1.218

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Abstract

To study the association between parental corporal punishment and psychological maladjustment in children. Potential mediating variables of this association were explored. The relationship between corporal punishment and physical abuse was also investigated. DESIGN, SETTING AND SAMPLE: The children (N = 1226, 12-year olds) were selected from government schools in the Colombo district, using a stratified random sampling technique. Self-administered instruments, adapted and validated to the Sri Lankan context were used. The experience of parental corporal punishment was shown to be moderately, but significantly, associated with psychological maladjustment in children. This association was enhanced by the child witnessing or experiencing non-parent-to-child violence (eg. domestic, community, teacher and peer violence). The extent of the child's support network, the nature of the parent-child relationship and the child's attitude to corporal punishment did not significantly alter the association between corporal punishment and psychological maladjustment. Corporal punishment was also moderately, but significantly, associated with child physical abuse. Parental corporal punishment is associated with psychological harm for children; this association is further enhanced by other forms of violence in a child's life.

Highlights

Disciplining children is a key aspect of parenting
The experience of parental corporal punishment was shown to be moderately, but significantly, associated with psychological maladjustment in children. This association was enhanced by the child witnessing or experiencing non-parent-to-child violence
Parental corporal punishment is associated with psychological harm for children; this association is further enhanced by other forms of violence in a child's life

Summary

Introduction

Disciplining children is a key aspect of parenting. There is currently much interest on what constitute healthy and unhealthy disciplinary methods, especially with regard to corporal punishment [1]. On the other hand, is characterised by the infliction of physical injury as a result of punching, beating, kicking, biting, burning, shaking or otherwise harming a child. The parent may not have intended to hurt the child, rather the injury may have resulted from severe corporal punishment [3]. Some tend to view corporal punishment and physical abuse along a continuum, so that, when corporal punishment is administered too severely or frequently the outcome can be abuse [3, 4]

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