Parenting discipline styles and child psychopathology in a clinical sample of Egyptian children in the Nile Delta region

Mohammad A Seleem,Reham A Amer

doi:10.1186/s43045-020-00063-8

Abstract

BackgroundFew, if any, studies evaluated the effect of violent parenting discipline on children’s psychological well-being in the Nile Delta region. The current study aimed to explore the spectrum of violent versus non-violent parenting discipline styles practiced by a sample of Egyptian families who came for psychiatric advice in Tanta Psychiatry and Neurology Center and the effects of such styles on youth’s problem behavior and psychiatric diagnoses. Two hundred and seven families were recruited and interviewed using the Kiddie Schedule of affective disorders and schizophrenia-present and life-time version “K-SADS-PL.” Arabic translated and validated versions of the conflict tactics scale–parent child version (CTS-PC) and the child behavioral checklist questionnaire (CBCL) for ages 6–18 years were used to evaluate parenting discipline styles and child psychopathology, respectively.ResultsYouth (n = 207) had an average age of 10.8 ± 2.8 years and 30% were females. A significant association was noted between all forms of psychological and physical violence against children, in addition to neglectful parenting, and both internalizing and externalizing problems in offspring with no significant differences between mild and severe forms of violence. Parents who were sexually abused as children had more tendency to practice violent discipline strategies on their own children.ConclusionsAll forms of child maltreatment, even mild forms, have a considerable effect on the child psychological development. National policies and legalization should be implemented to decrease child maltreatment and protect children from all forms of physical and sexual abuse.

Highlights

Few, if any, studies evaluated the effect of violent parenting discipline on children’s psychological well-being in the Nile Delta region
The current study reports robust positive association between all forms of psychological and physical violence against children and both internalizing and externalizing problems in offspring with no significant differences between milder forms of corporal punishment, classically accepted in our culture, and severer forms of violence and abuse
The current study has reported a significant association between parental psychological aggression and the Sexual abuse experienced by the parent when he/she was a child p

Summary

Introduction

If any, studies evaluated the effect of violent parenting discipline on children’s psychological well-being in the Nile Delta region. The precipitating effect of violent discipline styles on both internalizing and externalizing problems in offspring has been widely recognized [1, 4, 6, 7, 9] Behaviors such as shouting, screaming, slapping, and beating the child are known to have a harmful effect on the child’s behavior, self-esteem, and academic life [9]. Such parenting behaviors are still widely practiced in many parts of the world, especially low- and middle-. The effect sizes of both practices on detrimental child outcome did not differ significantly in a recent large meta-analysis [11]

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Discussion

Conclusion