Spanking among rural African American mothers and pathways to child behavior problems during kindergarten

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  • March 20, 2019
Creator
  • Clincy, Amanda R.
    • Affiliation: College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience
Abstract
  • This dissertation research is comprised of two studies aimed at exploring the implications of spanking for children's behavior in multiple contexts. Specifically, Study 1 explored whether linkages between maternal spanking at 36 months and internalizing and externalizing behaviors during kindergarten were moderated by child negative emotionality at 6 months and maternal sensitivity, maternal harshness, and sociodemographic risk at 36 months. In Study 2, effortful control at 58 months was examined as a potential mechanism by which maternal spanking influenced behavior within particular contexts. The sample consisted of 468 rural African American mothers and their children participating in the Family Life Project. Data were obtained from multiple sources including reports from the mother and teacher and coding from observational protocols. In the first study, maternal spanking was unrelated to internalizing or externalizing behaviors. However, associations between maternal spanking and externalizing behaviors were contingent upon the overall parenting context. Specifically, in parenting contexts characterized by low levels of sensitivity or high levels of harshness, maternal spanking was associated with higher levels of externalizing behavior. In the context of high sensitivity, maternal spanking was related to lower levels of externalizing behaviors. Contrary to prediction, child negative emotionality and sociodemographic risk did not emerge as moderators of the association between maternal spanking and behavior problems. In Study 2, maternal spanking was related to lower levels of effortful control for children prone to negative emotionality. Maternal spanking was associated with higher levels of effortful control in the context of maternal harshness. Contrary to what was hypothesized, effortful control was not associated with behavior problems, suggesting that, in the current sample, other mechanisms may account for relations between maternal spanking and externalizing behavior within particular contexts. In sum, this research highlights the importance of examining the specific conditions under which spanking is harmful or beneficial to children's adjustment in multiple domains of functioning.
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  • ... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Psychology (Developmental Psychology).
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  • Cox, Martha
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