Abstract
Objective
To examine whether the longitudinal associations between maternal spanking and child
externalizing behavior are moderated by attachment style.
Methods
This study used data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (n = 2211),
a large cohort sample of low-income urban families. Multiple-group autoregressive
cross-lagged models examined the associations between maternal spanking and child
externalizing behavior when children were ages 1, 3, and 5. Moderation by attachment
style was examined using structural invariance testing.
Results
For children with an insecure mother-child attachment style, spanking at age 1 was
associated with externalizing behavior at age 3. However, for children with a secure
mother-child attachment style, the association between maternal spanking at age 1
and child externalizing behavior at age 3 was absent. Attachment style did not moderate
the association between maternal spanking at age 3 and externalizing behavior at age
5, suggesting that spanking at age 3 is associated with deleterious outcomes at age
5, regardless of attachment style.
Conclusions
Results suggest that even in the context of a secure attachment style, spanking is
associated with adverse outcomes in early childhood. Findings support the American
Academy of Pediatrics 2018 policy statement, which encourages parents to avoid spanking
when disciplining children. Results suggest that children, regardless of attachment
style, may benefit from policies and services that promote non-violent forms of discipline.
Keywords
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Article Info
Publication History
Published online: July 03, 2019
Accepted:
June 28,
2019
Received:
April 9,
2019
Footnotes
The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.
Identification
Copyright
Copyright © 2019 by Academic Pediatric Association
