Psychological Development and Education ›› 2020, Vol. 36 ›› Issue (6): 725-733.doi: 10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2020.06.11

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Parental Harsh Discipline and Child Problem Behaviors: The Mediating Effect of Child Self-control

ZHANG Xiuhui1, WANG Meifang2, LIU Li1   

  1. 1. School of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014;
    2. Elementary Education College, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048
  • Published:2020-11-20

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Abstract: To explore the mediating role of child self-control in the relations between parental harsh discipline and child problem behaviors, a sample of 1097 children and their parents from two public elementary school in Jinan completed the Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scales, Social Skills Rating System, and Child Behavior Checklist. The results showed that: (1) Paternal and maternal harsh discipline (psychological aggression and corporal punishment) were negatively correlated with child self-control, and were positively correlated with child internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors. Child self-control was negatively correlated with child internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors; (2) Paternal psychological aggression significantly and positively predicted child internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors. Maternal corporal punishment significantly and positively predicted child externalizing problem behaviors; (3) Child self-control mediated the relations between paternal psychological aggression/maternal corporal punishment and child internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors. There were no significant child gender differences in the mediating effects. These findings indicated that parental harsh discipline has direct effect on child internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors and indirect effect through child self-control.

Key words: harsh discipline, self-control, problem behaviors, children

CLC Number: 

  • B844
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