"Smacking never hurt me!" Identifying myths surrounding the use of corporal punishment

Antonia M. Kish; Peter A. Newcombe

doi:10.1016/j.paid.2015.07.035

"Smacking never hurt me!" Identifying myths surrounding the use of corporal punishment

Antonia M. Kish, Peter A. Newcombe

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

18 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Corporal punishment (CP) is a common disciplinary strategy used by parents, despite recent evidence associating it with adverse effects on child development. The influence of common beliefs or myths about CP use, particularly those related to its effectiveness and harmlessness, is one possible explanation for its continued use and aligns with past research evidence in other contexts illustrating myths as precursors for behavior. With a sample of young people (N=366, M age=19.55years, SD=3.79years), this study aimed to identify whether such myths exist and whether they might predict CP use. However, because no measure yet exists to empirically examine CP myths, a new Corporal Punishment Myths Scale (CPMS) was developed and validated. Results show CP myths exist, are measurable and multidimensional, and can predict disciplining behaviors. Preliminary support was also found for the reliability and validity of the new CPMS. Implications, strengths and limitations, and future directions of this research are also discussed.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	121-129
Number of pages	9
Journal	Personality and Individual Differences
Volume	87
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2015.07.035
Publication status	Published - 1 Dec 2015
Externally published	Yes

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title = "{"}Smacking never hurt me!{"} Identifying myths surrounding the use of corporal punishment",

abstract = "Corporal punishment (CP) is a common disciplinary strategy used by parents, despite recent evidence associating it with adverse effects on child development. The influence of common beliefs or myths about CP use, particularly those related to its effectiveness and harmlessness, is one possible explanation for its continued use and aligns with past research evidence in other contexts illustrating myths as precursors for behavior. With a sample of young people (N=366, M age=19.55years, SD=3.79years), this study aimed to identify whether such myths exist and whether they might predict CP use. However, because no measure yet exists to empirically examine CP myths, a new Corporal Punishment Myths Scale (CPMS) was developed and validated. Results show CP myths exist, are measurable and multidimensional, and can predict disciplining behaviors. Preliminary support was also found for the reliability and validity of the new CPMS. Implications, strengths and limitations, and future directions of this research are also discussed.",

keywords = "Child discipline, Childhood, Children, Corporal punishment, Developmental outcomes, Factor analysis, Parent-child relationships, Parenting",

author = "Kish, {Antonia M.} and Newcombe, {Peter A.}",

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AU - Kish, Antonia M.

AU - Newcombe, Peter A.

PY - 2015/12/1

Y1 - 2015/12/1

N2 - Corporal punishment (CP) is a common disciplinary strategy used by parents, despite recent evidence associating it with adverse effects on child development. The influence of common beliefs or myths about CP use, particularly those related to its effectiveness and harmlessness, is one possible explanation for its continued use and aligns with past research evidence in other contexts illustrating myths as precursors for behavior. With a sample of young people (N=366, M age=19.55years, SD=3.79years), this study aimed to identify whether such myths exist and whether they might predict CP use. However, because no measure yet exists to empirically examine CP myths, a new Corporal Punishment Myths Scale (CPMS) was developed and validated. Results show CP myths exist, are measurable and multidimensional, and can predict disciplining behaviors. Preliminary support was also found for the reliability and validity of the new CPMS. Implications, strengths and limitations, and future directions of this research are also discussed.

AB - Corporal punishment (CP) is a common disciplinary strategy used by parents, despite recent evidence associating it with adverse effects on child development. The influence of common beliefs or myths about CP use, particularly those related to its effectiveness and harmlessness, is one possible explanation for its continued use and aligns with past research evidence in other contexts illustrating myths as precursors for behavior. With a sample of young people (N=366, M age=19.55years, SD=3.79years), this study aimed to identify whether such myths exist and whether they might predict CP use. However, because no measure yet exists to empirically examine CP myths, a new Corporal Punishment Myths Scale (CPMS) was developed and validated. Results show CP myths exist, are measurable and multidimensional, and can predict disciplining behaviors. Preliminary support was also found for the reliability and validity of the new CPMS. Implications, strengths and limitations, and future directions of this research are also discussed.

KW - Child discipline

KW - Childhood

KW - Children

KW - Corporal punishment

KW - Developmental outcomes

KW - Factor analysis

KW - Parent-child relationships

KW - Parenting

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SP - 121

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JO - Personality and Individual Differences

JF - Personality and Individual Differences

ER -

"Smacking never hurt me!" Identifying myths surrounding the use of corporal punishment

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