Consequences of parental corporal punishment on 12-year-old children in the Colombo district

Abstract

Objective: This study examined the association between parental corporal punishment and psychological maladjustment in children. Potential mediating variable of this association were explored. The relationship between corporal punishment and physical abuse was also investigated. Design, setting and sample: The children (N=1226, 12-year-olds) were selected from government schools in the Colombo district, using a stratified random sampling technique. Measurements: Self-administered instruments, adapted and validated to the Sri Lankan context were used. Results: The experience of parental corporal punishment was shown to be moderately, but significantly, associated with psychological maladjustment in children. This association was impacted by the child witnessing/experiencing non-parent-to-child violence (that is, domestic, community, teacher and peer violence). The extent of the child’s support network, the nature of the parent-child relationship and the child’s attitude to corporal punishment did not significantly buffer the association between corporal punishment and psychological maladjustment. Corporal punishment was also moderately, but significantly, associated with child physical abuse. Conclusion: The findings indicate that parental corporal punishment is associated with psychological harm for children, and that this association is further impacted by other forms of violence in a child’s life.