Corporal Punishment as a Stressor among Youth

Abstract

This article addresses impact of corporal punishment by parents on psychological well-being of youth. The present research used National Youth Victimization Prevention Study (NYVPS nationally representative sample of 1,042 boys and 958 girls, ages 10-16. Based on a stress-process framework, we examine: (a) effects of frequency of corporal punishment experienced by youth ages 10-16 on psychological distress and clinically relevant depression and (b) moderating influence of parental support on associations between corporal punishment and psychological outcomes. Controlling for sociodemographic factors and physical abuse, our findings indicate a positive association between frequency of corporal punishment and both psychological distress and depression. Although distress is greatest at higher frequencies of punishment, association is also present at low and moderate levels of corporal punishment. An interaction between corporal punishment and parental support was also evident, showing that impact of frequent punishment relative to no corporal punishment was greater in context of high parent support. Corporal punishment or physical punishment refers to the use of physical force with intention of causing a child pain, but not injury, for purposes of correction or control of child's (Straus Donnelly, 1993, p. 420). The corporal punishment of children by parents is a normative form of discipline in our society. In fact, spanking and slapping children are not only considered acceptable, but generally believed to be highly effective and quite Straus (1991) found that 84% of a national sample of adults agreed that a good, hard spanking is sometimes necessary. Parents who refuse to use corporal punishment on children are viewed as too lenient and ineffective--in essence, poor parents (Carson, 1986). Consistent with these norms, almost all parents use corporal punishment on their toddlers (Straus, 1991, 1994). While prevalence of corporal punishment declines with age of child, it still remains high even into adolescence. Recently, Straus and Donnelly (1993) found that almost half of children in early adolescence experience corporal punishment by a parent. Moreover, adolescents report being physically punished at a median frequency of four times per year. Straus and Donnelly suggest that this is likely a lower bound estimate, since it only includes punishment from one parent. CORPORAL PUNISHMENT AS A CHILDHOOD STRESSOR A variety of negative health and behavioral outcomes suggests that acts involving physical punishment are stressful for children. The most well-known outcome of corporal punishment is that it increases violent behavior by punished child (Larzelere, 1986; Lefkowitz, Eron, Walder, & Huesmann, 1977; Maurer, 1974; Parke & Slaby, 1983; Straus, 1991). For example, Straus (1991) found that children who received ordinary corporal punishment were 3 times more likely to assault siblings than those who were never physically punished. Similarly, Larzelere (1986) reported a linear relationship, across several age groups of children, between frequency of corporal punishment and aggressive acts. Although most research on effects of physical punishment has focused on child aggression, other negative effects on behavior and health have been reported also. For example, several studies related physical punishment to depression in children (Holmes & Robins, 1988; Maurer, 1974; Straus, 1994). Bryan and Freed (1982) found that college students who were physically punished in childhood manifested several long-term effects, including having fewer friends and a greater frequency of negative social interactions, as well as elevated levels of depression and anxiety. Similarly, Straus and Kaufman-Kantor (1994) found that corporal punishment experienced in teenage years was positively associated with drinking problems, depressive symptoms, and thoughts of suicide. …