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The Intergenerational Transmission of Physical Punishment: Differing Mechanisms in Mothers’ and Fathers’ Endorsement?

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Abstract

We examined the intergenerational transmission of physical punishment (PP) and whether marital satisfaction moderated this transmission. Participants were 241 mothers and 107 fathers with a three year-old child who completed a semi-structured interview assessing their endorsement of disciplinary methods and the methods their parents used to discipline them. Marital satisfaction was assessed using the Conflicts and Problem Solving Scales. Different predictive models were obtained for mothers and fathers. For mothers, socioeconomic status (SES) and their own mother’s use of PP significantly predicted their current endorsement of PP. For fathers, SES and perceived harshness of childhood discipline predicted current endorsement of PP. Marital satisfaction moderated the intergenerational transmission of PP for fathers, but not mothers. Results indicated that PP by the same-sex parent and SES are important factors in its intergenerational transmission, and that the effects of childhood PP on current endorsement may be more direct for mothers and indirect for fathers.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by Grant MH57489 from the National Institute of Mental Health. We would like to thank the parents, children, teachers, and staff involved with the Michigan Longitudinal Study as well as the National Institute of Mental Health for making this study possible. We would also like to thank Kristen Ann Piangozza for her diligent work in supporting this project

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Child and Family Center, University of Oregon, 195 W. 12th Ave., Eugene, OR, 97401-3408, USA

    Erika S. Lunkenheimer, Jennifer E. Kittler, Sheryl L. Olson & Felicia Kleinberg

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  1. Erika S. Lunkenheimer
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  2. Jennifer E. Kittler
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  3. Sheryl L. Olson
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  4. Felicia Kleinberg
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Appendix A: Measure of Parents’ Discipline History

Appendix A: Measure of Parents’ Discipline History

How harsh was the discipline in your home?

Table 6
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How did you mother punish you when you were a child? (You can select more than one)*

Table 7
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*These questions were repeated for the parent’s father.

Table 8
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Lunkenheimer, E.S., Kittler, J.E., Olson, S.L. et al. The Intergenerational Transmission of Physical Punishment: Differing Mechanisms in Mothers’ and Fathers’ Endorsement?. J Fam Viol 21, 509–519 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-006-9050-2

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