Temperamental, cultural, and familial moderators of physical punishment on Chinese American children’s behavioral difficulties

• In Event: 1-117 - Development in context: Cultural influences from infancy to adolescence

Integrative Statement

Physical punishment has been generally associated with child adjustment problems (Lansford, et al. 2014). However, previous studies have often relied on cross-sectional designs, which ignore bidirectional relations between parenting and child behavior. Moreover, the acceptability and effectiveness of physical punishment may vary across cultures (Lansford et al., 2005) and depend on child characteristics (Kiff et al., 2011) and the use of other parenting practices (Maccoby & Martin, 1983). These moderating processes are underexplored, particularly in ethnic minority families. Thus, this study aimed to examine: (1) bidirectional relations between physical punishment and Chinese American children’s behavioral difficulties and (2) moderating roles of child temperament, maternal cultural orientation, and parenting warmth.

The participants were first-generation Chinese immigrant mothers and their children (N = 154, Mage = 4.56, 50% boys). Mothers reported on their physical punishment and warmth (Wu et al., 2002), acculturation and enculturation (Chen & Lee, 1996), and their child’s temperamental inhibitory control (Rothbart et al., 2001). Teachers rated children’s internalizing and externalizing behaviors (Goodman, 2001). Maternal physical punishment and child behaviors were measured at both Wave 1 (W1) and Wave 2 (W2). Maternal cultural orientations, warmth, and child inhibitory control (moderators) were measured at W1.

Path analysis (Figure 1) showed that child externalizing behavior did not predict physical punishment, but physical punishment at W1 predicted more child externalizing behavior at W2 (β = .14, p = .020). Importantly, this effect was moderated by child temperament and maternal acculturation: At at low levels of child inhibitory control (Figure 2a) or high levels of maternal acculturation (Figure 2b), physical punishment more strongly predicted child externalizing behavior. Enculturation was not a moderator but uniquely predicted fewer internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Finally, maternal punishment at W1 predicted more child internalizing behavior at W2 (β = .17, p = .019) and child internalizing behavior at W1 reciprocally predicted less maternal physical punishment at W2 (β = -.14, p = .034). This parenting effect was further moderated by warmth: At high levels, but not low levels, of maternal warmth, physical punishment significantly predicted more child internalizing behavior (Figure 2c).

The child effect suggests that mothers may be responsive in choosing less physical-oriented disciplinary methods that do not further challenge a sense of security in children with internalizing problems (Chen et at., 1998). Interestingly, high warmth did not buffer children from the negative effects of physical punishment but led to more internalizing behavior. The inconsistent message of maternal warmth and harshness may provoke anxiety and diminish children’s sense of control (Aunola & Nurmi, 2005). Moreover, the effect of physical punishment on child externalizing behavior depended on both cultural and child characteristics. Physical punishment may arouse more anger and hostility in children with lower inhibitory control, thus leading to oppositional and externalizing problems (Grusec & Goodnow, 1994). This effect on externalizing behavior was also stronger for children of highly acculturated Chinese immigrant mothers who may be more aware that physical discipline is less accepted in the U.S. but use it anyway, reflecting perhaps hostile or inflexible parenting.

Authors

• Jing Yu, NICHD
  Presenting Author

• Charissa S. L. Cheah, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
  Non-Presenting Author

• Craig H. Hart, Brigham Young University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Chongming Yang, Brigham Young University
  Non-Presenting Author