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Trajectories of Physical Discipline: Early Childhood Antecedents and Developmental Outcomes
Author(s) -
Lansford Jennifer E.,
Criss Michael M.,
Dodge Kenneth A.,
Shaw Daniel S.,
Pettit Gregory S.,
Bates John E.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
child development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.103
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1467-8624
pISSN - 0009-3920
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2009.01340.x
Subject(s) - psychology , developmental psychology , early childhood , observational study , disadvantage , child discipline , poison control , injury prevention , medicine , environmental health , pathology , political science , law
This study examined childhood antecedents and developmental outcomes associated with trajectories of mild and harsh parental physical discipline. Interview, questionnaire, and observational data were available from 499 children followed from ages 5 to 16 and from 258 children in an independent sample followed from ages 5 to 15. Analyses indicated distinct physical discipline trajectory groups that varied in frequency of physical discipline and rate of change. In both samples, family ecological disadvantage differentiated the trajectory groups; in the first sample, early child externalizing also differentiated the groups. Controlling for early childhood externalizing, the minimal/ceasing trajectory groups were associated with the lowest levels of subsequent adolescent antisocial behavior in both samples and with parent–adolescent positive relationship quality in the second sample.