Communication and Corporal Punishment: The Relationship Between Parents' Use of Verbal and Physical Aggression

ABSTRACT

A two-part study was conducted to determine the relationship between parents' use of verbal and physical aggression (i.e., corporal punishment). In part one, 151 undergraduate students filled out a survey rating their mother' and father' verbal aggression and use of corporal punishment. In part two, mail surveys measuring verbal aggression were sent to 280 parents; 67% of parents returned the surveys. There were significant positive relationships between both perceived mother and perceived father verbal aggression and all measures of corporal punishment, but the only correlation that reached significance with regard to the self-report parent data was between mother' verbal aggression and the most severe instance of corporal punishment. Results and implications of this study are discussed.

Keywords:

• Verbal Agression
• Corporal Punishment
• Parent-child Communication

Notes

^a Numbers in parentheses are standard deviations.

^b Standardized item alpha.

^c Single item measure.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Anthony J Roberto

Anthony Roberto (PhD, Michigan State University) is an Assistant Professor

Kellie E. Carlyle

Kellie Carlyle (MA, Wake Forest University) is a doctoral student

Leola McClure

Leola McClure (PhD, The Ohio State University) does not hold an academic appointment at this time.