Strict and inconsistent discipline in childhood: consequences for adolescent mental health.
Recent reviews have suggested an association between discipline experienced in childhood and the development of later psychopathology. As part of a longitudinal study of the health and development of a large sample of New Zealand children, maternal reports of strict and inconsistent discipline were obtained when the sample members were aged 7 and 9 years. It was found that inconsistency was associated with early behaviour problems, but strictness was not. At age 15 years the prevalence of DSM-III disorders in the sample was established. Univariate analyses showed significant associations between inconsistency and low levels of strictness with externalizing disorder. Logistic regression analyses demonstrated that in the presence of other predictor variables including childhood problem behaviour, these associations only approached significance. However, when the two ratings were combined, rates of disorder for those who experienced more relaxed and inconsistent discipline were double the rates found in the sample remainder. No significant association was found between discipline and internalizing disorder.
Feehan
M
M
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Otago Medical School, Dunedin, New Zealand.
McGee
R
R
Stanton
W R
WR
Silva
P A
PA
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D002668:Child Rearing; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010553:Personality Development; D011594:Psychometrics; D011678:Punishment; D012307:Risk Factors