Corporal Punishment of Young Children: Parents’ Perceptions and Family Practices

Our study aim was to examine the perceptions and experiences of parents regarding corporal punishment of children during early childhood within the context of traditional families. Participants of this qualitative phenomenological study were parental pairings of 11 preschool-aged children living in Eyyübiye district of Şanlıurfa, Türkiye. Data were collected through participant interviews during home visits and content analysis was followed for data analysis. It was revealed through the findings that parents used various forms of corporal punishment as a means of protecting family dignity as well as disciplining their children. It was also pointed out those traditional and cultural elements including parental respect, patriarchal structure, parental responsibilities of children, religious beliefs, and intergenerational transmission, which shaped how parents utilized and perceived corporal punishment. Finally, our study results were discussed in light of the relevant literature.