Article

Young adults felt that the distinction between physical discipline and abuse is subjective.
Participants noted that physical punishment may encourage behavioural compliance but may not hold instructive value.
Physical punishment may also hold long-lasting consequences in the form of negative emotions and trauma for the recipient.
Some young adults rationalised their experiences of physical punishment, such as by recognising their parents did not know better.
Though most participants reported negative experiences of past physical punishment, about half expressed intentions or possibility of physically disciplining their potential future children.

Kelly M. Y. Chan, Elinor Lim, Hoi Shan Cheung, Charlene S. L. Fu

Young adults reported parental discipline experiences that could be sorted into 3 groups, ranging from harshest (high levels of physical, psychological, and non-violent discipline) to least harsh (little physical discipline, moderate amount of psychological discipline, and high level of non-violent discipline).
Participants who received harsher parental discipline had more difficulty regulating their emotions and poorer relationships with their parents, compared with those who received less harsh discipline.
The young adults who reported receiving harsher discipline from their mothers also had lower self-esteem than those who received less harsh maternal discipline. The harshness of paternal discipline did not significantly affect participants’ self-esteem.

Kelly M. Y. Chan, Elinor Lim, Hoi Shan Cheung, Charlene S. L. Fu

Nearly half the parents surveyed had used at least one type of physical discipline in the past year. Of the parents who had done so frequently, 54% perceived physical punishment to be ineffective and 60% perceived it to be unacceptable.
Parents’ reported discipline practices could be sorted into 3 groups, ranging from harshest (high levels of physical, psychological, and non-violent discipline) to least harsh (lower levels of physical and psychological discipline and high level of non-violent discipline).
Most of the parents had experienced physical punishment in their own childhood. Those who had, also thought it was more effective, acceptable, and necessary, and were more likely to be harsher disciplinarians.
Parents who held more favourable attitudes towards physical punishment and who perceived it to be more normative were more likely to be harsher disciplinarians.

Elinor Lim, Hoi Shan Cheung, Charlene S. L. Fu, Kelly M. Y. Chan, Clarissa Choo