The physical punishment of children in Sweden and New Zealand
Wilkstedt, My Helene
The physical punishment of children in Sweden and New Zealand A thesis submitted for the degree of Master of Arts at the University of Otago Wilkstedt, My Helene - 2005 - viii, 97 p.
Thesis (MA) - University of Otago, 2005. This thesis examined parents' use of physical discipline in relation to their attitudes and values about childrearing, knowledge of child development, and attitudes towards violence. These constructs were analysed as a function of parents' national origin. One hundred parents of 3 to 8 year old children were interviewed individually; 50 in New Zealand, and 50 in Sweden. Qualitative analyses revealed that New Zealand and Swedish parents use a range of strategies when they discipline their children, although New Zealand parents mentioned using significantly more coercive verbal control and physical punishment than Swedish parents. Most New Zealand parents reported that they had smacked their children. Approximately one-third of Swedish parents mentioned that they had used physical force for the purpose of correction, but they typically did so by grabbing or pushing the child. Qualitative analyses also revealed that New Zealand parents valued parental rights more than did Swedish parents. Swedish parents valued children's rights more, and indicated more warmth and concern towards their children than did New Zealand parents. Swedish parents were significantly less tolerant of violence, and had more knowledge of child development than did New Zealand parents. Multiple regression analyses showed that attitudes towards violence and values regarding parental rights predicted the use of physical disciplining methods, whereas, level of warmth and knowledge of child development predicted the use of positive disciplining methods. The author suggests that systematic prioritisation of children in policy-making may change the way people view children, which may increase the likelihood of parents using more positive disciplining methods. Additionally, increasing people's knowledge about children and child development may lead to parents holding more realistic expectations of their children and therefore using age-appropriate disciplining methods.--AUTHOR'S ABSTRACT
CHILDREN
DISCIPLINE
FAMILIES
PHYSICAL ABUSE
POLICY
STATISTICS
THESES
LAW
CHILD ABUSE
NEW ZEALAND
SWEDEN
The physical punishment of children in Sweden and New Zealand A thesis submitted for the degree of Master of Arts at the University of Otago Wilkstedt, My Helene - 2005 - viii, 97 p.
Thesis (MA) - University of Otago, 2005. This thesis examined parents' use of physical discipline in relation to their attitudes and values about childrearing, knowledge of child development, and attitudes towards violence. These constructs were analysed as a function of parents' national origin. One hundred parents of 3 to 8 year old children were interviewed individually; 50 in New Zealand, and 50 in Sweden. Qualitative analyses revealed that New Zealand and Swedish parents use a range of strategies when they discipline their children, although New Zealand parents mentioned using significantly more coercive verbal control and physical punishment than Swedish parents. Most New Zealand parents reported that they had smacked their children. Approximately one-third of Swedish parents mentioned that they had used physical force for the purpose of correction, but they typically did so by grabbing or pushing the child. Qualitative analyses also revealed that New Zealand parents valued parental rights more than did Swedish parents. Swedish parents valued children's rights more, and indicated more warmth and concern towards their children than did New Zealand parents. Swedish parents were significantly less tolerant of violence, and had more knowledge of child development than did New Zealand parents. Multiple regression analyses showed that attitudes towards violence and values regarding parental rights predicted the use of physical disciplining methods, whereas, level of warmth and knowledge of child development predicted the use of positive disciplining methods. The author suggests that systematic prioritisation of children in policy-making may change the way people view children, which may increase the likelihood of parents using more positive disciplining methods. Additionally, increasing people's knowledge about children and child development may lead to parents holding more realistic expectations of their children and therefore using age-appropriate disciplining methods.--AUTHOR'S ABSTRACT
CHILDREN
DISCIPLINE
FAMILIES
PHYSICAL ABUSE
POLICY
STATISTICS
THESES
LAW
CHILD ABUSE
NEW ZEALAND
SWEDEN