Citation

Clement M, Dufour S, Chamberland C, Dubeau D. Can. J. Behav. Sci. 2009; 41(1): 11-21.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Canadian Psychological Association, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1037/a0013564

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

To date, few studies have shown a specific interest in parental discipline from the fathers' point of view. The goal of this study is to fill this gap by documenting the factors that are likely to predict attitudes favoring corporal punishment in a representative sampling of Quebec fathers. In total, 953 fathers participated in a telephone survey. Noted among the variables in the analysis model were: father's sensitivity to the consequences of violence for the child, prevalence of physical punishment toward the child, perception of the level of poverty, reports of violent discipline of a physical or psychological nature experienced during the fathers' childhood, number of people in the household and father's stress associated with the child's temperament. However, an apparent contradiction in paternal attitudes was seen: the majority of fathers were opposed to resorting to corporal punishment while remaining tolerant with respect to its use. The discussion paves the way for a more in-depth analysis and for understanding the potential role played by personal and contextual variables in the explanation of attitudes favoring corporal punishment.