Trends in Corporal Punishment and Attitudes in Favour of This Practice: Toward a Change in Societal Norms
Publication: Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health
8 December 2014
Abstract
Over 10 years ago, Quebec's statistical institute, the Institut de la Statistique du Québec, conducted its first population survey on family violence in the lives of children. Taken again 5 years later (2004), the survey showed a decrease in the use of corporal punishment of children. This paper presents the results of the third survey, which was conducted by telephone in 2012 with a representative sample of 4,029 maternal figures. More specifically, this paper presents the evolution of prevalence rates for corporal punishment and attitudes in favour of this practice as observed between the 3 surveys conducted in 1999, 2004, and 2012. The paper also presents the associations found between mothers’ attitudes and their reports of corporal punishment. The results show that attitudes and practices are closely associated and that corporal punishment has been in a constant and significant decrease since 1999, regardless of the children's age. Supported by a decrease in maternal attitudes in favour of this practice, the results are discussed in terms of changes in Quebec's social norms.
Résumé
Il y a plus de 10 ans, l'Institut de la statistique du Québec réalisait la première enquête de population sur la violence familiale dans la vie des enfants. Reprise 5 ans plus tard, l'enquête avait montré une diminution du recours aux punitions corporelles envers les enfants. Cet article vise à présenter les résultats de la troisième enquête réalisée en mode téléphonique en 2012 auprès d'un échantillon représentatif de 4 029 figures maternelles. Plus particulièrement, l'article présente l’évolution des taux de prévalence des punitions corporelles et des attitudes en faveur de cette pratique telle qu'observée entre les 3 enquêtes réalisées en 1999, 2004 et 2012. Dans un second temps, l'article montre la présence de liens étroits entre les attitudes maternelles et les conduites de punitions corporelles ainsi qu'une diminution constante et significative du recours aux punitions corporelles envers les enfants, et peu importe leur âge. Appuyées par une diminution des attitudes en faveur de cette pratique, les résultats sont discutés en termes de changements de normes sociales au Québec.
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Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health
Volume 33 • Number 2 • December 2014
Pages: 13 - 29
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Version of record online: 8 December 2014
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ClémentMarie-Ève and ChamberlandClaire. 2014. Trends in Corporal Punishment and Attitudes in Favour of This Practice: Toward a Change in Societal Norms. Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health.
33(2): 13-29. https://doi.org/10.7870/cjcmh-2014-013
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