Parental Corporal Punishment and Peer Victimization in Middle Childhood: A Sex-Moderated Mediation Model of Aggression

Abstract

There is a peak in peer victimization during middle childhood, with multiple negative consequences. Parental use of corporal punishment and child aggression are the most widely studied predictors of this phenomenon. The aim of the present study was to analyze whether parental use of corporal punishment affects peer victimization through child aggression. This mediation model was explored for both mothers and fathers and for both physical and relational forms of aggression and peer victimization. Furthermore, we also analyzed whether the mediation models were moderated by the sex of the child. Participants were 234 third graders (46% girls). Child aggression and victimization were measured by peers using the Mini Direct Indirect Aggression Inventory. Independent measures of mother’s and father’s use of corporal punishment were obtained from a PCA of items from the Parental Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire (PSDQ). Conditional process modeling was carried out using a macro for SPSS developed by Hayes (2013). Results indicated that aggression mediated the relation of parental corporal punishment to peer victimization. Some interesting moderating effects of sex in this mediation model were found; specifically, physical, and relational aggression mediated the relation of maternal corporal punishment to peer victimization only in boys. Few studies to date have addressed the connection between aggressive behavior and peer victimization as outcomes of corporal punishment, taking into consideration the role of parent’s and child’s sex, and both physical and relational forms of aggression and victimization during childhood.

School Bullying Victimization and Associated Factors Among School-Aged Adolescents in China

“…During early childhood, the family has a great deal of influence on the formation of children’s personalities (Cui & To, 2019). According to social learning theory, parents who regularly use punishment to discipline may exacerbate aggressive behaviors in children, which could increase the likelihood of being bullied by peers (Martin et al, 2021). Children exposed to negative family climates such as domestic violence are at higher risk of being bullied at school (Baldry, 2003).…”

Parental corporal punishment and adolescent drinking: the protective role of personal growth initiative and gender difference

“…PCP is defined as the use of physical force to cause children to experience pain, as a means of correcting or controlling their behavior ( Straus and Stewart, 1999 ). It can include behaviors such as slapping, grabbing, and spanking children, and is sometimes used as a parenting strategy ( Martin et al, 2020 ). Physical punishment by parents can lead to negative behavioral outcomes in children across many cultures, including the U.S., Korea, and China ( Lee and Watson, 2020 ).…”

“…However, there is a slight lack of empirical research on conflict spillovers between subsystems. Only one research suggests that individuals who have suffered from PCP are more vulnerable to peer victimization and report more behavioral problems ( Martin et al, 2020 ), whether PCP can affect PV still needs more exploration.…”