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Is spanking the tip of the iceberg in intrafamilial aggression. Is it a sign of something to look for? Use of Spanking for 3-Year-Old Children and Associated Intimate Partner Aggression or Violence -- Taylor et al. 126 (3): 415 -- Pediatrics : Clipped from: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/126/3/415

Published online August 23, 2010
PEDIATRICS Vol. 126 No. 3 September 2010, pp. 415-424 (doi:10.1542/peds.2010-0314)

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ARTICLES

Use of Spanking for 3-Year-Old Children and Associated Inti

mate Partner Aggression or Violence

Catherine A. Taylor, PhD, MSW, MPH^a,Shawna J. Lee, PhD, MSW, MPP^b,Neil B. Guterman, PhD^c, Janet C. Rice, PhD^d

^a Department of Community Health Sciences, and 
^d Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana; 
^b Merrill-Palmer Skillman Institute for Child and Family Development, School of Social Work, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan; 
^c School of Social Service Administration and Chapin Hall Center for Children, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois

OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to examine associations between maternal and paternal use of corporal punishment (CP) for 3-year-old children and intimate partner aggression or violence (IPAV) in a population-based sample.

METHODS The study sample (N = 1997) was derived from wave 3 of the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study. Mother and father reports regarding their use of CP and their IPAV victimization were analyzed. IPAV included coercion and nonphysical and physicalaggression.

RESULTS Approximately 65% of the children were spanked at least once in the previous month by 1 or both parents. Of couples who reported any family aggression (87%), 54% reported that both CP and IPAVoccurred. The most prevalent patterns of co-occurrence involved both parents as aggressors either toward each other (ie, bilateral IPAV) or toward the child. The presence of bilateral IPAV essentially doubled the odds that 1 or both parents would use CP, even after controlling for potential confounders such as parenting stress, depression, and alcohol or other drug use. Of the 5 patterns of co-occurring family aggression assessed, the "single aggressor" model, in which only 1 parent aggressed in the family, received the least amount of empirical support.

CONCLUSIONS Despite American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendations against the use of CP, CP use remains common in the United States. CP prevention efforts should carefully consider assumptions made about patterns of co-occurring aggression in families, given that adult victims of IPAV, including even minor, nonphysical aggression between parents, have increased odds of using CP with their children.

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Key Words: corporal punishment • physical punishment • spank • parenting • domestic violence • intimate partner aggression or violence • toddlers • epidemiology

Abbreviations: CP = corporal punishment • IPAV = intimate partner aggression or violence • FFCWS = Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study

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Accepted Jun 1, 2010.