Poster #37 - Childhood Experience and Current Attitudes Towards Physical Discipline in Singapore: Perceived Deservedness as a Moderator

• In Event: Poster Session 10

Abstract

Background: Past experience of physical discipline during childhood has been identified to be predictive of its future use on children (Wang et al., 2018; Wang & Xing, 2014) and predictive of young adults holding positive attitudes towards this disciplinary strategy (Hester et al., 2009). In Asia, Europe and North America, young adults’ past experience of physical discipline was associated with greater antisocial behavior (Rebellon & Straus, 2017). However, the association between past experience of physical discipline and detrimental outcomes may differ depending on normativeness of physical discipline in that culture (Gershoff et al., 2010; Lansford et al., 2005). Children may be more likely to view their parents’ disciplinary strategies as fair when perceived as normative (Grusec & Goodnow, 1994). Additionally, when physical discipline was perceived as deserved, it was predictive of young adults’ approval of physical discipline (Bell & Romano, 2012) and their intended future use of it (Rodriguez & Price, 2004). In Singapore, physical discipline remains prevalent. 65.6% of Singapore undergraduates reported being physically disciplined before age 12 (Douglas & Straus, 2006). Majority of adult participants also viewed caning as appropriate if it happened infrequently, if it left no permanent mark, and if the child was misbehaving (Chan et al., 2000). Past experience of physical discipline during childhood and perceived deservedness may be predictive of attitudes towards physical discipline. Hence, there is an imperative need to identify factors promoting the use of physical discipline in Singapore.

Objectives: As perceptions of parental physical discipline may matter more in predicting problematic outcomes than actual occurrence (Mulvaney & Mebert, 2010), young adults’ recollections of childhood experiences will be examined. This study aims to investigate (i) the association between young adults’ recollections of frequency of parental physical discipline and their attitudes towards physical discipline, and (ii) whether perceived deservedness would moderate the association.

Preregistered Hypotheses: It is hypothesized that greater frequency of parental physical discipline will be associated with more positive attitudes towards physical discipline, but only at greater levels of perceived deservedness (Figure 1).

Participants: 400 young adults will be recruited for this study and their retrospective perspectives will be investigated.

Methods: Young adults’ recollections of parental use of physical discipline will be measured using the Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scales (CTSPC; Straus et al., 1998). Attitudes towards physical discipline will be assessed by the Attitudes Towards Physical Punishment scale – adapted from the Attitudes Towards Spanking Questionnaire (ATS; Holden, 2001) and the Adult Adolescent Parenting Inventory-2 (AAPI-2; Bavolek & Keene, 1999). Perceived deservedness will be assessed with two items adapted from the Physical Punishment Questionnaire (PPQ; Rohner & Khaleque, 2005) (Table 1).

Preregistered Analyses: A moderated regression will be conducted to determine the association between young adults’ recollections of parental use of physical discipline and their attitudes towards physical discipline, and the moderating effects of perceived deservedness on the association.

Authors

• Tracy Chow, Nanyang Technological University

• Ying Qing Won, Nanyang Technological University
  Presenting Author

• Mioko Sudo, Nanyang Technological University

• Peipei Setoh, Nanyang Technological University