Parental Attitude: A Mediating Role in Disciplinary Methods Used by Parents

This study examines the mediating effect of parental attitude in the relationship between environmental factors (educational attainment, income status, and marital status) and disciplinary methods used by parents. A structural model was designed to examine the impact of the selected environmental factors on disciplinary methods once parental attitude (defined as “devaluing attitudes” and “belief in corporal punishment”) was added to the equation. Parents with low educational attainment who valued corporal punishment were more likely to use psychological abuse, corporal punishment, and physical assault against their children. Parental attitude, however, did not mediate the relationship between income or marital status and disciplinary methods.