ABSTRACT
This study explored the reciprocal associations between maternal physical discipline and children’s externalizing problems across childhood, distinguishing between trait-like (i.e., between-person) and state-like (i.e., within-person) differences. We used data from 604 dyads in Singapore, a context where physical discipline is commonly accepted. We analyzed maternal physical discipline and children’s externalizing problems at three timepoints between ages 4 and 10.5 using a random-intercept cross-lagged panel model, adjusting for sociodemographic factors. At the between-person level, maternal physical discipline covaried positively with more externalizing problems in children, supporting extensive evidence in the literature. However, at the within-person level, maternal physical discipline at age 4.5 predicted children’s lower externalizing problems at age 7. These findings underscore the value of disentangling between- and within-person effects and highlight the complex associations between physical discipline and externalizing problems in a setting where physical discipline is common.