Gender Role Views and the Acceptability of Corporal Punishment Among Male University Students in Japan

Reports of men as primary abusers in child abuse consultations have risen annually in Japan. Masculinity traits such as aggression and dominance over women have been associated with violence among male abusers, potentially fostering acceptance of corporal punishment. This study examined the relationship between gender role attitudes and acceptance of corporal punishment among male university students. In 2020, an anonymous cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted with 1,365 engineering undergraduates; 107 responded (7.8%), and 87 were included in the final analysis. The survey included 22 abuse-related behaviors and standardized scales of gender role attitudes. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that students with more egalitarian gender role attitudes and those who viewed corporal punishment as unnecessary were significantly less likely to endorse corporal punishment as a disciplinary strategy. These findings suggest that stereotypical gender role beliefs may contribute to tolerance of violent disciplinary practices. Future research should examine how family environments, experiences of corporal punishment, and socioeconomic factors shape these attitudes, while educational efforts from adolescence onward are essential to foster a society free from abuse.