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Changing Attitudes about Spanking: a Mixed-Methods Study of a Positive Parenting Intervention

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Abstract

While ample research describes the negative effects of corporal punishment (CP) on children, parental decisions about discipline strategies are complex. Some parents may resort to CP because they do not know what else to do. The current mixed-methods, quasi-experimental study examined whether participation in the Positive Parenting Program (Triple P – Level 4) (n = 68) was associated with lower levels of self-reported parental stress, less parental perception of child misbehavior, and improved attitudes and expectations toward CP compared to a comparison group of caregivers (n = 23). After six weekly group/individual sessions, Triple P participants reported significantly lower rates of parental stress and child maladjustment, and less favorable attitudes toward CP compared to baseline. Stress and favorability toward CP declined significantly more among Triple P participants than among comparison participants. There was a high level of attrition in the comparison group. At the end of the program, seven focus groups were conducted with Triple P participants (n = 47). Analyses revealed themes about managed vs. unmanaged stress, conflicting views of spanking, perceived beneficial impact of Triple P on their parenting strategies, improved relationships with their children, and use of alternative strategies before spanking. This study adds to the literature on community parenting interventions by illuminating individual caregiver experiences in Triple P Level 4 and associated reduction in favorable attitudes toward CP.

Highlights

  • Mixed-methods study on Positive Parenting Program (Triple P).

  • Triple P participants have less favorable attitudes of corporal punishment.

  • Triple P participants reported using alternative strategies before spanking.

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Acknowledgements

The study team would like to thank Denise Wiklacz, who assisted with the IRB, participant compensation, and administering surveys; Loren Jennifer Cook for organizing and administering surveys; and Allie Hargrove and Charlie Weeks for their help with participant recruitment and data management. We also would like to extend a special appreciation to all the people who participated in this study.

Funding

This grant “Carolinas Collaborative: Community-Pediatric Partnerships for Promotion of Child Health and Prevention of Toxic Stress” was supported by the Community Pediatrics Training Initiative (CPTI) of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) through funding by The Duke Endowment (Grant No. 15-05-SGO). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Sciences, Furman University, 3300 Poinsett Hwy, Greenville, SC, USA

    Shaniece Criss & Margot Fumo

  2. Prisma Health Children’s Hospital, 701 Grove Rd, Greenville, SC, USA

    Lochrane Grant, Nancy Henderson & Kerry Sease

  3. Department of Psychology, Furman University, 3300, Poinsett Hwy, Greenville, SC, USA

    Cinnamon Stetler

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  1. Shaniece Criss
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  2. Lochrane Grant
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  3. Nancy Henderson
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  4. Kerry Sease
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  5. Margot Fumo
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Correspondence to Shaniece Criss.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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The research was approved with human subjects through the Prisma Health IRB. All the participants signed the consent forms for this study.

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Criss, S., Grant, L., Henderson, N. et al. Changing Attitudes about Spanking: a Mixed-Methods Study of a Positive Parenting Intervention. J Child Fam Stud 30, 2504–2515 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-021-02039-6

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