University students’ perceptions of spanking as a child discipline strategy

Corporal punishment is a child discipline method in which a caregiver deliberately inflicts pain upon a child in response to child’s behavior. The immediate aim of corporal punishment is usually to alter children’s behavior. Multiple groups focused on promoting children’s health and well-being (e.g., The American Academy of Pediatrics) urge parents to use alternative discipline practices instead of spanking. Despite such recommendations, research suggests that spanking remains a common disciplinary practice—although some research does suggest that the prevalence has decreased across generations. There is still a need to understand the prevalence of spanking and the factors that impact attitudes toward spanking. This investigation examined rates of being spanked as a child and perceptions of using spanking as a disciplinary practice in 271 students recruited at a university with a diverse student body. The impact of multiple sociocultural factors and the relation between the history of being spanked as a child and current perceptions of spanking were examined. Results showed that approximately 70% of students reported being spanked as a child with some differences emerging from being an immigrant or first generation American and reported race. Additionally, students who reported being spanked had statistically significant higher rates of positive views towards using spanking as a disciplinary practice. Results are discussed within the context of public health campaigns aimed at reducing spanking rates.