Associations of neighborhood disorganization and maternal spanking with children’s aggression: A fixed-effects regression analysis

Abstract

This study employed fixed effects regression that controls for selection bias, omitted variables bias, and all time-invariant aspects of parent and child characteristics to examine the simultaneous associations between neighborhood disorganization, maternal spanking, and aggressive behavior in early childhood using data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS). Analysis was based on 2,472 children and their mothers who participated in Wave 3 (2001-2003; child age 3) and Wave 4 (2003-2006; child age 5) of the FFCWS. Results indicated that higher rates of neighborhood crime and violence predicted higher levels of child aggression. Maternal spanking in the past year, whether frequent or infrequent, was also associated with increases in aggressive behavior. This study contributes statistically rigorous evidence that exposure to violence in the neighborhood as well as the family context are predictors of child aggression. We conclude with a discussion for the need for multilevel prevention and intervention approaches that target both community and parenting factors.

Does community violence exposure moderate the associations between maternal spanking and early child behavior problems?

“…Our findings were consistent with numerous prior studies of the FFCWS, in that we found the associations of maternal spanking with elevated levels of both externalizing and internalizing child behavior problems (Ma & Grogan‐Kaylor, 2017; Maguire‐Jack et al, 2012; Taylor, Manganello, Lee, & Rice, 2010). Also consistent with a prior FFCWS study that used fixed effects analysis, we found that community violence predicted higher levels of child aggression (Ma et al, 2018). In this study, fixed effects regression models showed that mother's spanking is linked to increased levels of child behavior problems regardless of the level of community violence.…”

“…In our models, we controlled for a range of covariates at the parent, child, and neighborhood levels that prior literature has found to have associations with child behavior problems as well as parental use of spanking (e.g, Grogan‐Kaylor, 2005; Ma et al, 2018).…”

“…Dysregulated behaviors and emotions of children are common putative causes for parental use of spanking in which the parent models the use of aggressive behavior and promotes subsequent child misbehavior (Lee, Altschul, & Gershoff, 2013). To consider the potential bidirectional nature of parent–child interactions, extant spanking literature has employed cross‐lagged designs (e.g., Lee, Altschul, & Gershoff, 2013; Maguire‐Jack, Gromoske, & Berger, 2012) or controlled for children's existing behavior problems that may trigger the use of parental spanking (e.g., Grogan‐Kaylor, 2005; Ma, Grogan‐Kaylor, & Lee, 2018).…”

“…In view of prior research that has found that both community violence exposure and spanking are predictors of child behavior problems (Ma et al, 2018), we examine whether contextual conditions moderate the associations of maternal spanking with child behavior problems. Specifically, we hypothesize that community violence exposure would not moderate the associations between maternal spanking and early behavior problems.…”

Spanking and Young Childrens Socioemotional Development in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

“…Scholars, practitioners, and policy makers continue to debate about the merits of spanking, in part due to correlational evidence. Nevertheless, the highest quality studies, which employ various methods to statistically control for possible confounders (e.g., Gershoff, Sattler, & Ansari, 2018;Ma, Grogan-Kaylor, & Lee, 2018), consistently demonstrate negative effects of spanking, and even "small effects can translate into large societal impacts" (Gershoff & Grogan-Kaylor, 2016, p. 465). At best, spanking is likely an ineffective practice for helping children develop socially and emotionally; at worst, it is likely harmful to children across the world.…”