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Abstract
This dissertation focuses on factors that influence child corporal punishment (CP) behavior. It comprises two studies. In Study 1, I conducted a secondary analysis of focus group data including 75 low-income Black, Hispanic, and White parents. I first analyzed sources of perceived CP norms. I then examined the parents’ attitudes toward alternative disciplines and analyzed the parents’ reactions toward three intervention messages. Results indicated that childhood CP experience influenced Black and White parents’ pro-CP norms and attitudes. Hispanic parents, however, viewed their childhood CP experience as negative and distanced their parenting practice from that of their own parents. Parents knew various alternative disciplines and regarded them as positive but not as effective as CP. Additionally, while Hispanic parents were supportive to the intervention messages, Black and White parents were not. This set of results were explained through the false consensus effect, self-categorization theory, and acculturation theory.
In Study 2, the Integrative Model of Behavioral Prediction (IM) and results from Study 1 were used to create and test a model that predicted the mediating roles of attitudes, perceived norms, and efficacy of alternative disciplines on the association between childhood CP experience and intentions to use CP. The model test with a sample of low-income Black, Hispanic, and White parents (n = 260) showed a good fit with the data. Results confirmed the findings of Study 1. Specifically, childhood CP experience was positively associated with positive attitudes toward CP and pro-CP norms, which predicted behavioral intentions. Counter to hypotheses, self-efficacy and response efficacy for alternative disciplines were not associated with childhood CP experience nor with intentions to use CP.
Multi-group SEM analyses revealed that the mediation pathways from childhood CP experience to behavioral intentions through attitudes and perceived norms worked for Black and White parents but not for Hispanic parents. Posthoc analyses revealed that effect sizes of the coefficients for attitudes and descriptive norms were similar across the three racial/ethnic groups. However, Black parents had higher injunctive norms for CP use than did White and Hispanic parents. Theoretical and practical implications were discussed.
In Study 2, the Integrative Model of Behavioral Prediction (IM) and results from Study 1 were used to create and test a model that predicted the mediating roles of attitudes, perceived norms, and efficacy of alternative disciplines on the association between childhood CP experience and intentions to use CP. The model test with a sample of low-income Black, Hispanic, and White parents (n = 260) showed a good fit with the data. Results confirmed the findings of Study 1. Specifically, childhood CP experience was positively associated with positive attitudes toward CP and pro-CP norms, which predicted behavioral intentions. Counter to hypotheses, self-efficacy and response efficacy for alternative disciplines were not associated with childhood CP experience nor with intentions to use CP.
Multi-group SEM analyses revealed that the mediation pathways from childhood CP experience to behavioral intentions through attitudes and perceived norms worked for Black and White parents but not for Hispanic parents. Posthoc analyses revealed that effect sizes of the coefficients for attitudes and descriptive norms were similar across the three racial/ethnic groups. However, Black parents had higher injunctive norms for CP use than did White and Hispanic parents. Theoretical and practical implications were discussed.