Examining the mediating roles of attachment dimensions in the associations between childhood harsh discipline and behavioral problems

Abstract

Childhood experience of harsh discipline such as psychological and physical aggression has been consistently associated with greater behavioral problems. Harsh discipline may not have similar negative implications in Singapore where it is deemed normative. This study examined the direct path between childhood harsh discipline and behavioral problems, as well as the mediating roles of three attachment dimensions (i.e., trust, communication, alienation). Singaporean young adults (N = 449, Mage = 22.6, 52% female) reported on their childhood disciplinary experiences using Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scale and current attachment towards parent using Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment, separately for mother and father. They also reported on their current externalizing and internalizing problems using Adult Self-Report Questionnaire. To account for clustering of maternal and paternal discipline and attachment data within young adults, multilevel path analysis was conducted. After controlling for child gender and non-violent discipline, severe physical discipline (e.g., slapping around the face) was directly associated with greater internalizing problems (B = 0.33, SE = 0.16, p = .046). Minor physical discipline (e.g., spanking) was not related to behavioral problems. Psychological aggression was not directly, but indirectly associated with greater externalizing (95% CI [0.02, 0.18]) and internalizing problems (95% CI [0.04, 0.19]) through alienation. Our results suggest that alienation is a unique attachment dimension that underlies the association between parental psychological aggression and young adults’ behavioral problems. Minor physical discipline may have less adverse consequences in a normative context.