title: Marital relationship and individual psychological characteristics that predict physical punishment of children.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Peace College, Raleigh, North Carolina 27604, USA.
authors.forename: Korrel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kanoy
authors.forename: Beril
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ulku-Steiner
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burchinal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005196:Family Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D011678:Punishment; D018570:Risk Assessment