Intergenerational Transmission of Parental Harsh Discipline: Parental Interdependence and the Moderating Effect of Child’s Gender

doi:10.12139/j.1672-0628.2024.01.013

Abstract

Abstract:

Based on the family system theory and interdependent theory, this study examined the parental interdependence and the moderating effect of child’s gender on the intergenerational transmission of harsh discipline. A questionnaire survey was conducted on 388 pairs of school age pupils’ mothers and fathers. Actor-partner interdependence modeling analyses revealed that: 1) The actor associations were significant, that is, mothers and fathers who had more experiences of being harsh disciplined in childhood engaged in more harsh disciplinary behaviors towards their own children. 2) Only fathers’ partner association was significant, that is, mothers’ experiences of being harsh disciplined in childhood predicted fathers’ harsh disciplinary behaviors. 3) The combination effects were also significant, that is, mothers’ and fathers’ actor associations were intensified by his or her partners’ experiences of being harsh disciplined in childhood. 4) Several associations above were moderated by child’s gender. Mothers’ actor association was stronger when their children were boys rather than girls, while mothers’ combination effect was significant only when their children were girls rather than boys. The findings suggest that the intergenerational transmission of harsh discipline within parents is non-independent and is moderated by child’s gender.

Key words: parental harsh discipline, intergenerational transmission, actor-partner interdependence modeling, gender differences

摘要：

基于家庭系统理论和互倚理论探讨严厉管教的代际传递在父母间的互倚与子女性别的调节作用，使用问卷法对388对小学生父母进行调查。主客体互倚模型分析的结果显示：(1)父母的主体效应显著，即父亲和母亲的儿时受严厉管教经历均正向预测自己对子女的严厉管教；(2)仅父亲的客体效应显著，即母亲儿时受严厉管教经历正向预测父亲对子女的严厉管教；(3)父母的组合效应显著，即父母亲儿时受严厉管教经历均强化对方代际传递的主体效应；(4)上述部分关系受子女的性别调节，母亲的主体效应在子女是男孩时强于子女是女孩时，仅当子女是女孩时，母亲的组合效应显著。研究发现严厉管教代际传递在父母间呈现非独立互倚模式，且这种代际传递受到子女性别的调节。

关键词: 严厉管教, 代际传递, 主客体互倚模型, 性别差异

CLC Number:

B844

Zu’er LI, Jinqin HOU, Zhiyan CHEN. Intergenerational Transmission of Parental Harsh Discipline: Parental Interdependence and the Moderating Effect of Child’s Gender[J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2024, 22(1): 93-99.

李祖儿, 侯金芹, 陈祉妍. 严厉管教的代际传递：父母的互倚及子女性别的调节作用[J]. 心理与行为研究, 2024, 22(1): 93-99.

Figures/Tables 5

References

	刘畅, 伍新春. 主客体互倚性的成对模式及其检验. 心理发展与教育, 2017, 33 (1): 105- 112.
	刘莉, 王美芳, 邢晓沛. 父母心理攻击: 代际传递与配偶对代际传递的调节作用. 心理科学进展, 2011, 19 (3): 328- 335.
	宋占美, 王芳, 王美芳. 学前儿童父母严厉管教的代际传递: 基于主客体互倚性模型的分析. 中国临床心理学杂志, 2020, 28 (3): 556- 560.
	邹盛奇, 伍新春, 刘畅. 母亲守门员效应——概念结构、理论解释与研究展望. 北京师范大学学报(社会科学版), 2016, (6): 41- 49.
	Belsky, J.. The determinants of parenting: A process model. Child Development, 1984, 55 (1): 83- 96. DOI
	Chao, R. K.. Beyond parental control and authoritarian parenting style: Understanding Chinese parenting through the cultural notion of training. Child Development, 1994, 65 (4): 1111- 1119. DOI
	Cox, M. J., & Paley, B.. Understanding families as systems. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 2003, 12 (5): 193- 196. DOI
	Cui, N. X., Xue, J., Connolly, C. A., & Liu, J. H. (2016). Does the gender of parent or child matter in child maltreatment in China? Child Abuse & Neglect, 54, 1–9.
	Day, R. D., Peterson, G. W., & McCracken, C.. Predicting spanking of younger and older children by mothers and fathers. Journal of Marriage and Family, 1998, 60 (1): 79- 94. DOI
	Ertem, I. O., Leventhal, J. M., & Dobbs, S. (2000). Intergenerational continuity of child physical abuse: How good is the evidence? The Lancet, 356(9232), 814–819.
	Feinberg, M. E.. The internal structure and ecological context of coparenting: A framework for research and intervention. Parenting, 2003, 3 (2): 95- 131. DOI
	Gershoff, E. T.. Corporal punishment by parents and associated child behaviors and experiences: A meta-analytic and theoretical review. Psychological Bulletin, 2002, 128 (4): 539- 579. DOI
	Gross, A. B., & Keller, H. R.. Long-term consequences of childhood physical and psychological maltreatment. Aggressive Behavior, 1992, 18 (3): 171- 185. DOI
	Jaffee, S. R.. Child maltreatment and risk for psychopathology in childhood and adulthood. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 2017, 13, 525- 551. DOI
	Kelley, H. H., & Thibaut, J. W. (1978). Interpersonal relations: A theory of interdependence. New York: Wiley.
	Kenny, D. A., & Ledermann, T.. Detecting, measuring, and testing dyadic patterns in the actor-partner interdependence model. Journal of Family Psychology, 2010, 24 (3): 359- 366. DOI
	Leung, P. W. S., Wong, W. C. W., Chen, W. Q., & Tang, C. S. K. (2008). Prevalence and determinants of child maltreatment among high school students in Southern China: A large scale school based survey. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 2(1), 27.
	Liao, M. L., Lee, A. S., Roberts-Lewis, A. C., Hong, J. S., & Jiao, K. S.. Child maltreatment in China: An ecological review of the literature. Children and Youth Services Review, 2011, 33 (9): 1709- 1719. DOI
	McKee, L., Roland, E., Coffelt, N., Olson, A. L., Forehand, R., Massari, C., … Zens M. S.. Harsh discipline and child problem behaviors: The roles of positive parenting and gender. Journal of Family Violence, 2007, 22 (4): 187- 196. DOI
	Milner, J. S.. Social information processing in high-risk and physically abusive parents. Child Abuse & Neglect, 2003, 27 (1): 7- 20.
	Niu, H., Liu, L., & Wang, M. F.. Intergenerational transmission of harsh discipline: The moderating role of parenting stress and parent gender. Child Abuse & Neglect, 2018, 79, 1- 10.
	Ren, Y. Z., Chi, X. L., Bu, H., Huang, L. Y., Wang, S. F., Zhang, Y., … Jiao, C.. Warm and harsh parenting, self-kindness and self-Judgment, and well-being: An examination of developmental differences in a large sample of adolescents. Children, 2023, 10 (2): 406. DOI
	Rodriguez, C. M.. Personal contextual characteristics and cognitions: Predicting child abuse potential and disciplinary style. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 2010, 25 (2): 315- 335. DOI
	Schelbe, L., & Geiger, J. M. (2017). Intergenerational transmission of child maltreatment. Cham, Switzerland: Springer.
	Straus, M. A., & Field, C. J.. Psychological aggression by American parents: National data on prevalence, chronicity, and severity. Journal of Marriage and Family, 2003, 65 (4): 795- 808. DOI
	Straus, M. A., Hamby, S. L., Finkelhor, D., Moore, D. W., & Runyan, D.. Identification of child maltreatment with the Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scales: Development and psychometric data for a national sample of American parents. Child Abuse & Neglect, 1998, 22 (4): 249- 270.
	Thornberry, T. P., Knight, K. E., & Lovegrove, P. J. (2012). Does maltreatment beget maltreatment? A systematic review of the intergenerational literature. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 13(3), 135–152.
	Wang, M. F., & Liu, L.. Parental harsh discipline in China: Prevalence, frequency, and coexistence. Child Abuse & Neglect, 2014, 38 (6): 1128- 1137.
	Wang, Y. C., & Supple, A. J.. Parenting behaviors and adolescent psychosocial adjustment in China: An indigenous perspective. Marriage & Family Review, 2010, 46 (6−7): 480- 497.
	Wickham, R. E., & Knee, C. R.. Interdependence theory and the actor-partner interdependence model: Where theory and method converge. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 2012, 16 (4): 375- 393. DOI
	Widom, C. S., Czaja, S. J., & DuMont, K. A. (2015). Intergenerational transmission of child abuse and neglect: Real or detection bias? Science, 347(6229), 1480–1485.
	Wong, W. C. W., Leung, P. W. S., Tang, C. S. K., Chen, W. Q., Lee, A., & Ling, D. C.. To unfold a hidden epidemic: Prevalence of child maltreatment and its health implications among high school students in Guangzhou, China. Child Abuse & Neglect, 2009, 33 (7): 441- 450.
	Xing, X. P., Zhang, L. Y., Wei, Y. T., & Wang, Z. Y.. Parental harsh discipline and preschooler’s inhibitory control in China: Bidirectional relations and gender differences. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 2021, 36 (17−18): NP9109- NP9129. DOI

变量	M	SD	1	2	3
1.母亲受严厉管教经历	7.20	2.77
2.母亲严厉管教行为	14.20	4.39	0.39***
3.父亲受严厉管教经历	7.30	2.71	0.04	0.05
4.父亲严厉管教行为	13.84	4.19	0.25***	0.36***	0.38***

变量	M	SD	1	2	3
1.母亲受严厉管教经历	7.20	2.77
2.母亲严厉管教行为	14.20	4.39	0.39***
3.父亲受严厉管教经历	7.30	2.71	0.04	0.05
4.父亲严厉管教行为	13.84	4.19	0.25***	0.36***	0.38***

[1]	Renjie LIU, Lingxiang XIA, Yongping ZHAO. Developmental Characteristics of Latent Class of Cybervictimization Among College Students and the Role of Gender [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2023, 21(6): 784-791.
[2]	Min WU, Wenqi SONG, Jiawen JU. The Effect of Harsh Parenting on Sleep Quality of Children: The Mediating Effect of Core Self-Evaluation and Negative Emotions [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2023, 21(3): 344-351.
[3]	HUANG Jie, ZHU Dan, ZHOU Limin, LIU Wang. Intergenerational Transmission of Core Self-Evaluations: Chain Mediation of Parental Support and Offspring’s Basic Psychological Need [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2022, 20(4): 515-521.
[4]	LI Qiming, WANG Jiting. The Relationship Between Family Atmosphere Children’s Life Satisfaction and Intergenerational Transmission of Mental Health: The Difference of Parent-Child Gender and Children Age [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2022, 20(2): 282-288.
[5]	GUO Qingtong, XU Mingxue, XU Chunyan, LIU Xiuli. The Relationship Between University Students’ Dormitory Relationship Disturbance and Mobile Phone Addiction: A Sequential Mediation Model and Gender Differences [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2021, 19(5): 650-656.
[6]	ZHAI Peixin, HU Yuxiang, LIU Li. Parental Harsh Discipline and Children’s Anxiety: The Mediating Role of Family Cohesion [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2021, 19(2): 201-208.
[7]	GUO Xiaolin, QIN Huan, LUO Liang. Intergenerational Transmission of Filial Piety in Two- and Three-Generation Families and the Role of Parental Involvement [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2021, 19(2): 258-264.
[8]	LI Qiming. The Effects of Cultural Stereotypes and Similarity of Parental Filial Piety on Intergenerational Transmission of Filial Piety [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2020, 18(5): 714-720.
[9]	Li Tiantian, Lv Yong. Facial Expressions Detection Threshold Measurement: Age-And Gender-Related Difference [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2015, 13(6): 771-777.
[10]	Lan Xiaofang,Zhang Jinkun. The Gender Difference of FNE: Based on The Comparison of Implicit And Explicit Measurement [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2015, 13(1): 25-30.
[11]	Chi Liping. Intergenerational Transmission of Trust in Families with Adolescent Children: A Bargaining Game Investigation [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2014, 12(4): 508-512.
[12]	Lu Yong,Yu Le,Liu Yaping. STUDIES ON GENDER DIFFERENCES IN FACE RECOGNITION ABILITY [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2010, 8(1): 18-22.