Predicting Spanking of Younger and Older Children by Mothers and Fathers

RANDAL D. DAY Washington State University GARY W. PETERSON Arizona State University* COLEEN McCRACKEN Washington State University** We examine parents' characteristics that influence the incidence of spanking as a discipline strategy in younger and older children. Data were analyzed from the National Survey of Families and Households. We found that different combinations of blocks of predictor variables influenced spanking in eight subsamples. Belsky's model of competent parenting was employed to explain differences in spanking as a discipline strategy. Subsample profiles of spanking suggest that a variety of interventions are needed to decrease this frequently used parenting strategy. Key Words: aggression, child abuse, corporal punishment, fathering, parenting, spanking. Parents' use of corporal punishment or spanking has spawned much debate among family researchers and practitioners (McCormick, 1992; Straus, 1995; Straus Belsky, Robins, Giles-Sims et al., 1995; Socolar Simons, Johnson, Straus, 1983). However, most of the studies of spanking have methodological problems. A common deficiency in the spanking literature is the failure to survey precise frequencies of spanking. If frequency is measured at all, the assessment is conducted in only a general, global manner (Gray, 1988; Widom, 1989). Questions of intensity and motivation are seldom asked, and rarely do researchers attempt to place the punishing behavior within a theoretical framework. Also, some researchers rely on general global measures of spanking by asking parents if they have ever spanked during the past year. …