Longitudinal effects of physical discipline on specific dimensions of childhood anxiety

Abstract

• In Singapore, more than 80% of parents use physical discipline on their children (from 4.5-11 y/o; Sudo et al., under review). • Physical discipline has been linked to many negative developmental outcomes, including anxiety (e.g., Gershoff et al., 2010; Lansford et al., 2010; Liu, 2015). • Researchers have reasoned that physical discipline leads to anxiety through causing hypervigilance, maladaptive views of control and the use of less problem-focused coping (Dusek & Danko, 1994; Rapee, 1997; Salkovskis, 1985). • 1 in 8 Singaporean children (6-12 y/o) suffer from anxiety and other emotional problems (Woo et al., 2007). • Thus, we propose that the use of physical discipline in Singapore may be linked to higher rates of childhood anxiety.