Abstract
The study examined the relationship between physical punishment and socioemotional well-being in a sample of Jamaican adolescents.
The data indicated that the overwhelming majority of adolescent respondents experienced physical punishment within their families.
Physical punishment was significantly associated with adverse psychological and behavioral consequences, in that adolescents
reporting being victims of physical punishment also indicated a greater propensity to developmental adjustment problems than
their non-victimized peers. However, unlike findings from research emanating from more industrialized cultures, sociodemographic
factors were not associated with the incidence of physical punishment. Gender showed statistical significance on all socioemotional
dimensions and with behavior problems but not with physical punishment. Implications for policy decisions to reduce children’s
exposure to violence within that particular cultural context are discussed.
The data indicated that the overwhelming majority of adolescent respondents experienced physical punishment within their families.
Physical punishment was significantly associated with adverse psychological and behavioral consequences, in that adolescents
reporting being victims of physical punishment also indicated a greater propensity to developmental adjustment problems than
their non-victimized peers. However, unlike findings from research emanating from more industrialized cultures, sociodemographic
factors were not associated with the incidence of physical punishment. Gender showed statistical significance on all socioemotional
dimensions and with behavior problems but not with physical punishment. Implications for policy decisions to reduce children’s
exposure to violence within that particular cultural context are discussed.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s10896-010-9341-5
- Authors
- Delores E. Smith, Department of Child and Family Studies, University of Tennessee, 1215 West Cumberland Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996-1912, USA
- Cary M. Springer, Statistical Computing Center, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN USA
- Sheila Barrett, Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, Florida International University, Miami, FL USA
- Journal Journal of Family Violence
- Online ISSN 1573-2851
- Print ISSN 0885-7482