Punishment and Reward in Parental Discipline for Children Aged 5 to 6 Years: Prevalence and Groups at Risk

• Published in: Ambulatory pediatrics : the official journal of the Ambulatory Pediatric Association Vol. 15; no. 1; p. 96
• Main Authors: Theunissen, Meinou H C, Vogels, Anton G C, Reijneveld, Sijmen A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lawrence Elsevier Science Ltd 01.01.2015
• Subjects: Child discipline; Parents & parenting; Risk
• ISSN: 1876-2859; 1876-2867

In this study we examined the use and predictors of different discipline practices by parents of children aged 5 to 6 years. We obtained cross-sectional data for a nationally representative Dutch sample of children aged 5 to 6 years within the setting of routine well-child visits provided to the entire population. A total of 1630 children participated (response rate, 84%). Before the visit, parents completed a questionnaire with questions about their approach to discipline (punishment and rewards). Chiquare tests and logistic regression analyses were used to examine associations between discipline practices and child, parent, and family factors. Parental punishment prevalence was 21.9% for spanking and 80.3% for other punishment practices, such as time-outs. The prevalence of rewards as a discipline strategy was 32.2% for granting privileges and 86.3% for cuddling/complimenting. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that spanking was more likely in families in which the mothers have low and medium levels of education and in families of non-Dutch ethnicity. Other punishment practices (eg, time-outs, verbal reprimands, and holding) were more likely in families of Dutch ethnicity. Granting privileges was more likely in families of non-Dutch ethnicity, who lived in large cities, whose income was below the poverty level, in unemployed families, and in small families. Cuddling and complimenting were more likely in families with a high maternal educational level, in families of Dutch ethnicity, and in small families. These findings show the importance of considering social and economic factors when identifying and supporting parents with parenting/rearing challenges.