Maternal Use of Physical Discipline and Children's Externalizing Problems Across Childhood in Singapore

This study explored the reciprocal associations between maternal physical discipline and children's externalizing problems across childhood, distinguishing between trait-like (i.e., between-person) and state-like (i.e., within-person) differences. We used data from 604 dyads in Singapore, a context where physical discipline is commonly accepted. We analyzed maternal physical discipline and children's externalizing problems at three timepoints between ages 4 and 10.5 using a random-intercept cross-lagged panel model, adjusting for sociodemographic factors. At the between-person level, maternal physical discipline covaried positively with more externalizing problems in children, supporting extensive evidence in the literature. However, at the within-person level, maternal physical discipline at age 4.5 predicted children's lower externalizing problems at age 7. These findings underscore the value of disentangling between- and within-person effects and highlight the complex associations between physical discipline and externalizing problems in a setting where physical discipline is common.