Preventing Punitive Violence: Preliminary Data on the Positive Discipline in Everyday Parenting (PDEP) Program

Abstract

Most physical violence against children is punitive in intent. the united nations has called for the elimination of physical punishment of children and for the development of programs teaching nonviolent resolution of parent-child conflict. a focused effort is required to shift entrenched, intergenerationally transmitted, and culturally normalized belief systems about physical punishment. positive discipline in everyday parenting (pdep) was developed to meet this need. its short-term objectives are to: 1) reduce approval of physical punishment; 2) normalize parent-child conflict; and 3) strengthen parenting self-efficacy. pdep was delivered by trained program facilitators to 321 parents living in 14 cities in canada. responses to pre and posttest questionnaires suggest that parents who completed postprogram measures were less likely to both approve of physical punishment and view typical parent-child conflict as misbehaviour on the part of the child, and also to have greater parenting self-efficacy. More than 90% believed more strongly that parents should not use physical punishment, and that pdep would help them control their anger and build stronger relationships with their children. pdep is a promising approach to the prevention of punitive violence against children.Keywords: physical punishment, parent education, positive discipline, prevention, child abuse, parental attitudes, violence résumé derrière la violence faite aux enfants, la plupart du temps, il y a l'intention de les punir. les nations unies ont appelé à l'élimination des châtiments corporels infligés aux enfants et à la mise sur pied de programmes d'éducation sur la résolution non violente des conflits parents-enfants. des efforts ciblés sont donc nécessaires pour transformer des systèmes de croyances liées aux châtiments corporels ; ces croyances, bien établies et transmises de génération en génération, sont devenues des normes culturelles. l'outil « la discipline positive au quotidien à la maison » (dpQM) a été créé dans ce but, ses objectifs à court terme étant : 1. d'éliminer graduellement le caractère acceptable et adéquat associé aux châtiments corporels ; 2. de proposer aux parents des normes différentes à propos des conflits parents-enfants ; 3. de renforcer l'auto-efficacité des parents. des animateurs ayant reçu une formation pertinente ont fourni l'outil dpQM à 321 parents de 14 villes canadiennes, et les participants ont répondu à un questionnaire avant et après avoir utilisé l'outil. les réponses suggèrent que ces parents étaient par la suite moins susceptibles d'approuver les châtiments corporels et de considérer que les conflits vécus avec leurs enfants étaient dus à de mauvais comportements de ceux-ci, et plus susceptibles d'avoir une meilleure auto-efficacité. ainsi, plus de 90 % d'entre eux croyaient que les parents ne devraient pas avoir recours à des châtiments corporels et que l'outil dpQM pouvait les aider à mieux contrôler leur colère et à établir de meilleures relations avec leurs enfants. cet outil est donc une a...

Predicting externalizing and prosocial behaviors in children from parental use of corporal punishment

“…Our findings support those of an ever-growing number of studies that use of CP may lead eventually to the emergence of conduct disorders in children (Gershoff & Grogan-Kaylor, 2016). They also support the recommendations of a growing number of professional and organizations suggesting that prevention and intervention programs be implemented to eliminate CP (Durrant et al, 2004;Fortson et al, 2016) and foster positive, supportive, and autonomy-promoting parent-child relationships (e.g., Smith, Brown, Feldgaier, & Lee, 2015;Durrant et al, 2014). Such programs may help reduce the risk of developing or maintaining child physical aggression and conduct problems (Durrant et al, 2014).…”

“…They also support the recommendations of a growing number of professional and organizations suggesting that prevention and intervention programs be implemented to eliminate CP (Durrant et al, 2004;Fortson et al, 2016) and foster positive, supportive, and autonomy-promoting parent-child relationships (e.g., Smith, Brown, Feldgaier, & Lee, 2015;Durrant et al, 2014). Such programs may help reduce the risk of developing or maintaining child physical aggression and conduct problems (Durrant et al, 2014). Our findings also suggest that it may be helpful to screen parents for signs of depression; daughters of depressive mothers may be at particular risk for aggression (citation).…”

Universal violence and child maltreatment prevention programs for parents: A systematic review

“…This study evaluated 56 parental education interventions, including programs with a flexible and structured format. The structured interventions included six programs: Incredible Years, Strengthening Families, Personal and Family Support Program, More Family, In Search of the Treasure of Families, and Mission C. Table 2 shows that in 11 studies the participants were parents, including mothers and fathers (Begle & Dumas, 2011;Byrne et al, 2014;Byrne, Salmela-Aro, Read, & Rodrigo, 2012;Durrant et al, 2014;Fetsch, Yang, & Pettit, 2008;Heinrichs et al, 2014;Maalouf & Campello, 2014;Malti, Ribeaud, & Eisner, 2011;Portwood, Lambert, Abrams, & Nelson, 2011;Renzaho & Vignjevic, 2011;Weymouth & Howe, 2011). The parenting program was conducted with caregivers, including mothers, fathers, and other family members, in nine studies (Almeida et al, 2012;Burkhart, Knox, & Brockmyer, 2013;Conner & Fraser, 2011;Knox, Burkhart, & Cromly, 2013;Knox, Burkhart, & Howe, 2011;Knox, Burkhart, & Hunter, 2010;Knox & Burkhart, 2014;Marcynyszyn, Maher, & Corwin, 2011;Prinz, Sanders, Shapiro, Whitaker, & Lutzker, 2009).…”

“…The participants in the 123Magic program also presented significant improvements in parenting stress and self-efficacy (Kendall et al, 2013). Parents who completed the Positive Discipline in Everyday Parenting Program were less supportive of physical punishment, less likely to attribute typical child behaviors to "misbehavior" on the part of the child (e.g., defiance and disrespect), and more likely to believe that they have the skills that are necessary to be good parents from pre-to post-intervention (Durrant et al, 2014).…”

Promising intervention strategies to reduce parents’ use of physical punishment

“…The program has been adapted for parents with low levels of literacy, parents who are refugees or immigrants, and parents in a range of cultural, linguistic and faith communities. A pre/post evaluation found significant within-parent-group reduction in approval of physical punishment among a Canadian sample (Durrant et al, 2014). A comparison of pre- and post-test scores across 13 countries (Australia, Canada, Gambia, Georgia, Guatemala, Japan, Kosovo, Mongolia, Palestine, Paraguay, Philippines, the Solomon Islands, and Venezuela) found that, across countries, most parents believed that PDEP will have positive impacts on their parenting and their relationships with their children, and will help them to use less physical punishment (Durrant et al, 2016).…”