Corporal Punishment: Mother's Disciplinary Behavior and Child's Psychological Profile in Alexandria, Egypt

• NCJ Number: 226514
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Nursing Volume: 5 Issue: 1 Dated: 2009 Pages: 5-17
• Author(s): Mostafa A. Abolfotouh; Mohamed D. El-Bourgy; Amira G. Seif El Din; Azza A. Mehanna
• Date Published: 2009
• Length: 13 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study, which was conducted in Alexandria (Egypt), identified parents’ disciplinary methods with their children, the factors associated with corporal punishment (defined as “the intentional infliction of physical pain without causing injury for a perceived misbehavior, intending to modify this behavior”), as well as the association between exposure to corporal punishment and the child’s psychosocial well-being.

Abstract

Approximately three-fourths (76.3 percent) of the 400 fifth-grade children were corporally punished, and 46.2 percent of these children were punished on sites of their bodies other than the extremities or buttocks. The frequency of the punishment ranged from once or twice a week to more than once a day for 59.3 percent of the corporally punished children. Other disciplinary methods used by mothers were yelling/insulting (43.5 percent), taking away a toy or privilege (39.3 percent), discussing/explaining (9.5 percent), and time out (2.8 percent). The significant predictors of mothers’ use of corporal punishment were male gender of the child, rural origin of the father, the mother’s bad history of rearing experience, and poor interparental relationship. The link between corporal punishment and children’s self-esteem was not statistically significant; however, corporally punished children scored lower on relationships with others compared to children not corporally punished. The authors recommend the creation of educational programs for current and expectant parents in order to promote positive nonviolent methods of child rearing. A representative sample of 400 fifth-grade children and their mothers were administered a cross-sectional survey. Mothers’ questionnaire assessed their behavior regarding corporal punishment and other disciplinary methods. The children were administered the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory in order to assess their self-esteem; another questionnaire assessed their relationships with others. 6 tables and 46 references