Abstract:
The current study uses a correlational design to investigate how young adults' perceptions of their childhood corporal punishment experiences are related to their current Attachment to their mothers, Depressive symptoms in young adulthood, and history of Externalizing behavior problems. Specifically, relations between recalled Parental reliance on corporal punishment, recalled childhood Feelings following the receipt of corporal punishment, current Attachment to mother, Depressive symptoms in young adulthood, and history of Externalizing behavior problems in young adulthood were examined. Participants' Gender and Race were explored as targeted moderators. Results revealed that recalled Parental reliance on corporal punishment was positively related to recalled childhood Feelings following the receipt of corporal punishment. Both recalled Parental reliance on corporal punishment and recalled childhood Feelings following the receipt of corporal punishment were negatively related to current Attachment to mother. Depressive symptoms in young adulthood was positively related to recalled childhood Feelings following the receipt of corporal punishment and negatively related to current Attachment to mother. Greater parental reliance on corporal punishment was positively related to less Externalizing behavior problems in Black male participants but was related to increased Externalizing behavior problems in White male participants. Greater parental reliance on corporal punishment was also related to increased Externalizing behavior problems in Black female participants. However, this effect was not significant for White female participants.
