Abstract
The relationships among use of physical punishment of children, marital conflict, and individual adult hostility were examined longitudinally. Couples expecting their first child completed self-report scales of individual hostility and were observed in marital problem-solving situations for level of marital conflict during the prenatal period. The marital problem-solving situations were again assessed at 2 years and 5 years following the child's birth. At the later time points, discipline practices were assessed through interview. A climate of negativity, manifested through either high rates of individual hostility or marital conflict, predicted the use of more frequent and severe physical punishment of children at 2 and 5 years, even when parent educational level was controlled. Implications for policy and parent education are discussed.
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