(6) Parental Perceptions of Changing Child Behaviors and Associations with Reported Physical Discipline

Background: Globally, 60% of children ages 2-14 experience physical discipline at least monthly. Physical discipline is associated with poor neurodevelopmental outcomes. Negative parental perception increases risk for child maltreatment. Limited literature examines the association between perceived changing behavior and physical discipline. The purpose of this study was to investigate associations between parental perception of changing behavior and physical discipline.

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between parental perception of changing behavior and use of physical discipline.

Design/Methods: In August 2022, 1,886 parents were recruited through Qualtrics panels for a cross-sectional online survey study. Questions assessed perceived changes in child behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic and use of specific physical discipline methods in the last year. Chi-square tests were used to test associations between perceived changing behavior and use of physical discipline methods.

Results: Of parents surveyed, 71.9% identified as female, and 75.2% as white, 51.3% reported ever using physical discipline, and 26.3% reported having a child with a chronic medical condition. The mean parent age was 35.6 years old (SD = 8.7). Parents categorized their child’s behavior as improving (15.8%), unchanged (58.6%), or worsening (25.6%) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Higher prevalence of reported physical discipline was reported by parents indicating perceived worsening behavior compared to unchanged behavior in every physical discipline category studied (p < 0.0001). Additionally, improving behavior was associated with increased physical discipline compared to unchanged behavior, except for the physical discipline method of spanking on the buttocks with a bare hand, which had similar rates between perceived improving versus unchanged behavior (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion: Perceived child behavior change, especially worsening behavior, was associated with increased physical discipline. Clinicians should recognize the role of perceived behavior change in physical discipline prevention. Clinicians should also consider screening for physical discipline when parents report concerns related to perceived behavior change.