title: Repeated exposure to high-frequency spanking and child externalizing behavior across the first decade: a moderating role for cumulative risk.
abstract: This study used the Fragile Families and Child Well-Being Study to examine the effects of repeated exposure to harsh parenting on child externalizing behavior across the first decade of life, and a moderating role for cumulative ecological risk. Maternal report of harsh parenting, defined as high frequency spanking, was assessed at age 1, 3, 5, and 9, along with child externalizing at age 9 (N=2,768). Controlling for gender, race, maternal nativity, and city of residence, we found a cumulative risk index to significantly moderate the effects of repeated harsh parenting on child behavior, with the effects of repeated high-frequency spanking being amplified for those experiencing greater levels of cumulative risk. Harsh parenting, in the form of high frequency spanking, remains a too common experience for children, and results demonstrate that the effects of repeated exposure to harsh parenting across the first decade are amplified for those children already facing the most burden.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, Columbia University, USA.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: MacKenzie
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, Columbia University, USA.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nicklas
authors.affiliation: Teacher's College and College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, USA.
authors.forename: Jeanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brooks-Gunn
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, Columbia University, USA.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Waldfogel
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D011678:Punishment / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Aggression; Cumulative risk; Externalizing behavior; Harsh parenting; Rule-breaking; Spanking