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Factors that Influence Chinese Parents’ Intentions to Use Physical Violence to Discipline Their Preschool Children

Author

Listed:
  • Haixue Wang

    (Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
    These two authors contributed equally to this article.)

  • Guangrong Zhu

    (Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
    These two authors contributed equally to this article.)

  • Jingqi Chen

    (Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China)

  • Linjing Lyu

    (Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China)

  • Michael Dunne

    (School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane 4000, Australia
    Institute for Community Health Research, Hue University, Hue 530000, Vietnam)

Abstract

This study explored factors affecting parents’ intentions to use physical violence (PV) to discipline their children in the future. The theory of planned behavior (TPB) guided selection of variables. A sample of 1337 preschool children’s parents from nine kindergartens located in a county of Henan Province, China were selected by stratified random cluster sampling. Data on parents’ attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control over PV, intentions to engage in PV to discipline their preschool children in the future, self-reported PV behavior toward their children during the past three months, and demographic characteristics were collected via a paper-based questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression analyses examined putative predictors of parents’ intentions to use physically violent discipline. Nearly three-quarters of the sample said they definitely will not use violent discipline, while 23.4% either said they would use it, or did not rule it out. Logistic regression analysis showed that parents’ lower level of perceived behavioral control over using violence ( OR 4.17; 95% CI : 2.659, 6.551), attitudes that support PV ( OR 2.23; 95% CI : 1.555, 3.203), and having been physically violent with their children during the past three months ( OR 1.62; 95% CI : 1.032, 2.556) were significantly associated with parents’ tendency either to include, or not exclude, the use of violent discipline. Parents’ subjective norms regarding PV had no significant impact on their intentions ( p > 0.05). The influence of TPB constructs varied according to parents’ gender. Intervention programs that aim to reduce violent discipline should focus both on increasing parents’ perceived behavioral control over PV and changing their attitudes toward physically violent practices, especially among mothers and parents who have already used PV to discipline their children.

Suggested Citation

  • Haixue Wang & Guangrong Zhu & Jingqi Chen & Linjing Lyu & Michael Dunne, 2020. "Factors that Influence Chinese Parents’ Intentions to Use Physical Violence to Discipline Their Preschool Children," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-11, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:5:p:1787-:d:330512
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ajzen, Icek, 1991. "The theory of planned behavior," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 50(2), pages 179-211, December.
    2. Rosana E Norman & Munkhtsetseg Byambaa & Rumna De & Alexander Butchart & James Scott & Theo Vos, 2012. "The Long-Term Health Consequences of Child Physical Abuse, Emotional Abuse, and Neglect: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(11), pages 1-31, November.
    3. Liao, Minli & Lee, Alvin Shiulain & Roberts-Lewis, Amelia C. & Hong, Jun Sung & Jiao, Kaishan, 2011. "Child maltreatment in China: An ecological review of the literature," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(9), pages 1709-1719, September.
    4. Haixue Wang & Jingqi Chen & Linjing Lyu, 2019. "Erratum: Wang, H., et al. The Relationship between Parental Perception of Neighborhood Collective Efficacy and Physical Violence by Parents against Preschool Children: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Cou," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-1, December.
    5. Haixue Wang & Jingqi Chen & Linjing Lyu, 2019. "The Relationship between Parental Perception of Neighborhood Collective Efficacy and Physical Violence by Parents against Preschool Children: A Cross-Sectional Study in a County of China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-12, June.
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