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. 2009 Sep-Oct;80(5):1403-20.
doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2009.01341.x.

Correlates and consequences of spanking and verbal punishment for low-income white, african american, and mexican american toddlers

Lisa J Berlin  1 , Jean M Ispa, Mark A Fine, Patrick S Malone, Jeanne Brooks-Gunn, Christy Brady-Smith, Catherine Ayoub, Yu Bai
Affiliations

Correlates and consequences of spanking and verbal punishment for low-income white, african american, and mexican american toddlers

Lisa J Berlin et al. Child Dev. 2009 Sep-Oct.

Abstract

This study examined the prevalence, predictors, and outcomes of spanking and verbal punishment in 2,573 low-income White, African American, and Mexican American toddlers at ages 1, 2, and 3. Both spanking and verbal punishment varied by maternal race/ethnicity. Child fussiness at age 1 predicted spanking and verbal punishment at all 3 ages. Cross-lagged path analyses indicated that spanking (but not verbal punishment) at age 1 predicted child aggressive behavior problems at age 2 and lower Bayley mental development scores at age 3. Neither child aggressive behavior problems nor Bayley scores predicted later spanking or verbal punishment. In some instances, maternal race/ethnicity and/or emotional responsiveness moderated the effects of spanking and verbal punishment on child outcomes.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Generic cross-lagged path model used to analyze the reciprocal effects of spanking and verbal punishment at ages 1, 2, and 3 on child aggressive behavior problems and cognitive development at ages 2 and 3. Note. VP = Verbal Punishment
Figure 2
Figure 2
Associations between spanking at age 1 and child cognitive development at age 2, moderated by maternal race/ethnicity (More Acculturated Mexican American compared to White).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Associations between verbal punishment at age 2 and child cognitive development at age 3, moderated by maternal race/ethnicity (Less Acculturated Mexican American compared to White).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Associations between verbal punishment at age 2 and child aggressive behavior problems at age 3, moderated by maternal emotional responsiveness at age 2.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Associations between verbal punishment at age 2 and child cognitive development at age 3, moderated by maternal emotional responsiveness at age 2.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Associations between verbal punishment at age 1 and child cognitive development at age 2, moderated by maternal emotional responsiveness at age 1.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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