Gender Differences in the Moderating Effects of Parental Warmth and Hostility on the Association between Corporal Punishment and Child Externalizing Behaviors in China

Abstract

The study examines gender differences in the moderating effects of parental warmth and hostility on the associations between corporal punishment and child externalizing problem behavior in China. Three hundred fifty-eight preschool-aged children and their fathers and mothers were recruited to participate in this survey. The findings revealed that parental hostility but not parental warmth would moderate the associations between parental corporal punishment and child externalizing problem behavior, and the moderating effects had some interesting gender differences. Specifically, maternal hostility strengthened the link between paternal corporal punishment and child externalizing problem behavior for boys but not for girls, and paternal hostility strengthened the link between paternal corporal punishment and child externalizing problem behavior for girls but not for boys. These findings broaden our understanding of the contextual factors that account for the associations between harsh discipline and child outcomes, particularly within the Chinese cultural context.