A dyadic analysis of childhood violence exposure through parental discipline in a population-based cohort

Few studies have examined whether mothers' and fathers' disciplinary tactics may overlap or differ. Examination of both parents' disciplinary behaviors will contribute to explain potential variation in associated violence risk.

This study aims to assess if parental discipline used towards children in childhood and adolescence are individual or dyadic behaviors.

We used data from Portuguese Generation XXI cohort participants (n = 6110).

Parental discipline was reported at ages 7 and 13 using Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scale. A score was developed for each dimension. Actor-partner Interdependence (APIM) and Common-Fate (CFM) Models estimated effects of individual and shared decisions on discipline from ages 7 to 13.

APIM revealed that non-violent discipline, psychological and corporal aggression from ages 7 to 13 were actor-oriented behaviors (β_actor = 0.131, 95%CI: 0.107;0.156 vs. β_partner = -0.006, 95%CI: -0.031;0.018; β_actor = 0.188, 95%CI: 0.160;0.216 vs. β_partner = 0.005, 95%CI: -0.022;0.032; β_actor = 0.185, 95%CI: 0.159;0.211 vs. β_partner = 0.014, 95%CI: -0.012;0.039, respectively). Severe physical assault was couple-oriented (β_actor = β_partner = 0.060, 95%CI: 0.032;0.089). CFM revealed significant associations between non-violent discipline, psychological and physical aggression from ages 7 to 13, both individually and dyadically. Regarding severe discipline, dyadic latent variable showed a significant association (β_shared = 0.138, 95%CI: 0.066;0.210).

Independently of the actor, the use of non-violent discipline, psychological aggression and corporal punishment in childhood predicted their use in adolescence. The consistent use of the most severe discipline was a parental shared decision. Research should consider parental discipline as a factor influencing children's risk of violence exposure and impact on health and development.