Parental Discipline and Abuse Potential Affects on Child Depression, Anxiety, and Attributions

The current study investigated differences in childrenʹs emotional functioning as a product of their parentsʹ reported disciplinary practices and child abuse potential. Families with no known history of abuse were recruited to ascertain whether depressogenic attributional style and depressive or anxious symptomatology was evident in children of parents who used harsher physical punishment and who had higher abuse potential. Fortytwo New Zealand children ages 8–12 participated with their parents. Child-report measures of depression, anxiety, and attributional style were compared with parentsʹ responses on physical discipline scenarios and child abuse potential. Childrenʹs anxiety symptoms were higher in those children whose parents obtained higher abuse potential scores and had harsher discipline practices. Childrenʹs depressive symptoms and some components of maladaptive attributional style were also found in families with higher abuse potential. Results suggest emotional difficulties similar to those of maltreated children even without identifiable abuse.