Child, mother, and neighborhood characteristics and mothers’ use of corporal punishment: A longitudinal repeated measures analysis

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the child, mother, and neighborhood characteristics of mothers’ use of corporal punishment over time using a longitudinal repeated measures analysis. The sample consisted of 3,979 children from waves 2000 and 2002 of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 who resided with their mothers. Hierarchical linear modeling results showed that younger age, race/ethnicity, and behavioral problems of the child significantly predicted the use of corporal punishment by mothers over time. Regarding mothers’ characteristics, we found that only poverty status was statistically significant, and for neighborhood characteristics, mothers’ ratings of neighborhood quality predicted their employment of corporal punishment. Hence, community programs and professionals should provide mothers—especially those struggling financially and living in unsafe neighborhoods—with alternatives to corporal punishment that are culturally sensitive, effective, and harmless.

Keywords:

• Children
• corporal punishment
• family violence
• parenting
• youth

Acknowledgements

We are deeply grateful to Dr. Andrew Grogan-Kaylor for his generous feedback and comments on earlier drafts of this research, particularly on the multilevel modeling technique used for the study. We also thank Dr. Kathleen C. Faller for her comments. All errors and views expressed are our own and we assume full responsibility.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.