Smacking : are we being too heavy-handed? : findings from the Pacific Islands Families Study Schluter, Philip J.; Sundborn, Gerhard; Abbott, Max; Paterson, Janis
Material type:
- 1175-8716
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Vine library | Online | Available | ON12080381 |
New Zealand Medical Journal 120 (1267) 14 December 2007 : U2860
The aim of this study was to report the types, frequency, and concordance of physical punishments employed by parents on their Pacific children at ages 1, 2, and 4 years. A cohort of Pacific infants born during 2000 in South Auckland, New Zealand, was followed. Separate home interviews that included questions about child discipline were undertaken at 1-year, 2-years, and 4-years postpartum for mothers, and 1-year and 2-years postpartum for fathers. The authors conclude smacking is a widespread form of discipline administered to Pacific children, and hitting with objects is common. If the use of objects constitutes a consequential assault in the newly ratified Crimes (Substituted Section 59) Amendment Act 2007 then many parents within this cohort are in breach of this law. The authors state they believe that guidelines for corporal punishment which is legally acceptable needs to be made explicit to all, and widespread culturally sensitive efforts to teach parents positive parent management strategies is urgently required. Source: Author's abstract.