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Physical Discipline and Socioemotional Adjustment Among Jamaican Adolescents

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Abstract

The study examined the relationship between physical punishment and socioemotional well-being in a sample of Jamaican adolescents. The data indicated that the overwhelming majority of adolescent respondents experienced physical punishment within their families. Physical punishment was significantly associated with adverse psychological and behavioral consequences, in that adolescents reporting being victims of physical punishment also indicated a greater propensity to developmental adjustment problems than their non-victimized peers. However, unlike findings from research emanating from more industrialized cultures, sociodemographic factors were not associated with the incidence of physical punishment. Gender showed statistical significance on all socioemotional dimensions and with behavior problems but not with physical punishment. Implications for policy decisions to reduce children’s exposure to violence within that particular cultural context are discussed.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Child and Family Studies, University of Tennessee, 1215 West Cumberland Avenue, Knoxville, TN, 37996-1912, USA

    Delores E. Smith

  2. Statistical Computing Center, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA

    Cary M. Springer

  3. Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA

    Sheila Barrett

Authors
  1. Delores E. Smith
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  2. Cary M. Springer
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  3. Sheila Barrett
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Correspondence to Delores E. Smith.

Additional information

This study was supported by grants to the first author from the, Graduate School, the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences, and the Department of Child and Family Studies, University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

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Smith, D.E., Springer, C.M. & Barrett, S. Physical Discipline and Socioemotional Adjustment Among Jamaican Adolescents. J Fam Viol 26, 51–61 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-010-9341-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-010-9341-5

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