Congruence between adolescents' self-reports and their adult retrospective reports regarding parental discipline practices during their adolescence

Abstract

The congruence between adolescents' self-reports and their adult retrospective reports of parental discipline practices and physical abuse in adolescence was examined. A community sample of adolescents was recruited in 1979 through 1981 by a randomized telephone screening for a longitudinal study of adolescent development. These 104 men and 190 women (N = 359) were interviewed in person five times between the ages of 12 and 30 to 31 years about a variety of topics, including parental discipline and physical abuse. Analysis indicated only fair agreement on reports of discipline practices and physical abuse (most kappas between .2 and .4). Current life status, including depression, drug problems, and life dissatisfaction, was related to adult retrospective reports of physical abuse for both men and women. Research is needed to identify how best to obtain accurate histories of childhood maltreatment.