Intergenerational Transmission of Non-Punitive Parental Disciplining in India: Mediating Effect of Cognitive Appraisal

Abstract Background Parents are often the primary socialization agents, inculcating ideals of mature behavior and skills, that empower the integration of children into the society. This is usually accomplished through means of parenting strategies and disciplining practices. The purpose of the current study was to explore the intergenerational transmission of non-punitive disciplinary practices and the mediating effect of parental cognitive appraisal of the disciplinary practices in the Indian context. Method Using a cross-sectional design, data were collected from a sample of 174 parents of Indian origin whose children were between 5 and 16 years of age. The participants responded on the Dimensions of Discipline Inventory (Straus & Fauchier, 2007) to provide information on their perception of the discipline practices used by their parents, the discipline practices they currently use, and their cognitive appraisal of the discipline practices. The data were analyzed for descriptive statistics, correlations, and GLM mediation. Results A significant positive correlation was found between the perceived and current use of non-punitive discipline (r (173) = .31, p < 0.001). Additionally, mediation analysis revealed that parental cognitive appraisal of the discipline practices partially mediated this relationship. Conclusion The results support the positive association between discipline practices across generations and suggest that this relationship is partially mediated by parental cognitive appraisal. These findings have notable practical implications for the use of non-punitive practices by parents in terms of their effects on the present generation and the generations to come.