Consequences of parental corporal punishment on 12-year old children in the Colombo district.

OBJECTIVE: To study the association between parental corporal punishment and psychological maladjustment in children. Potential mediating variables of this association were explored. The relationship between corporal punishment and physical abuse was also investigated. DESIGN, SETTING AND SAMPLE: The children (N = 1226, 12-year olds) were selected from government schools in the Colombo district, using a stratified random sampling technique. MEASUREMENTS: Self-administered instruments, adapted and validated to the Sri Lankan context were used. RESULTS: The experience of parental corporal punishment was shown to be moderately, but significantly, associated with psychological maladjustment in children. This association was enhanced by the child witnessing or experiencing non-parent-to-child violence (eg. domestic, community, teacher and peer violence). The extent of the child's support network, the nature of the parent-child relationship and the child's attitude to corporal punishment did not significantly alter the association between corporal punishment and psychological maladjustment. Corporal punishment was also moderately, but significantly, associated with child physical abuse. CONCLUSIONS: Parental corporal punishment is associated with psychological harm for children; this association is further enhanced by other forms of violence in a child's life.

Adaptation and validation of the parent-child conflict tactics scale for use in Sri Lanka.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to validate the Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scale (CTSPC) in Sri Lanka, for use with 12-year old children. DESIGN: A Delphi Process determined the consensual and content validity of the CTSPC. Test-retest reliability and internal consistency were determined by a large and a small group administration. SETTING: Professionals from the social and behavioural sciences were the judges in the Delphi Process. Conveniently located schools in the Gampaha District were chosen for determining the test-retest reliability and internal consistency. MEASUREMENTS: This included original CTSPC and its Sinhala translation, a structured interview schedule and a focus group guide. RESULTS: The Sinhala version of the CTSPC showed adequate consensual and content validity. Its test-retest reliability and internal consistency were satisfactory. The instrument is best administered in small rather than in large groups of children. CONCLUSION: The Sinhala version of the CTSPC is appropriate to be used with 12-year old Sinhala speaking schoolchildren in Sri Lanka.