Parental Use of Corporal Punishment as Related to Family Environment, Psychological Well-Being, and Personality in College Students

The association between use of corporal punishment as a disciplinary technique and specific aspects of the family environment was examined through surveying undergraduate students enrolled in psychology classes at Old Dominion University. Also investigated was the relationship between corporal punishment and certain affective and personality variables. The Conflict Tactics Scale CTSPC-CA was utilized to measure the level of corporal punishment experienced by all 274 participants. However, only those respondents with the 75 highest and 75 lowest corporal punishment scores were compared in statistical analyses. Results indicated a significant difference between the higher and lower corporal punishment groups on the variables of positive family affect, family conflict, parental relationship behaviors, family worries, depression, nonsupport, identity problems, and negative social relationships.