NCJ Number
238309
Journal
Child Abuse & Neglect Volume: 36 Issue: 2 Dated: February 2012 Pages: 108-117
Date Published
February 2012
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This study tested whether parental education in the form of baby books reduced the use of corporal punishment in new mothers.
Abstract
Findings from the study indicate that new mothers who received educational baby books were less likely to use corporal punishment compared to those who received non-educational baby books or no books at all. The findings also indicate that changes in attitudes towards the use of corporal punishment were greater for African-American mothers and mothers with low levels of educational attainment. This study tested whether parental education in the form of baby books would change attitudes towards the use of corporal punishment in new mothers. Data for the study were obtained from a sample (n=167) of low-income, ethnically diverse women in their third trimester of pregnancy. The women were placed in one of three groups: those who received educational baby books with information about child development and effective parenting embedded in the books, those who received standard, non-educational baby books, and those who received no baby books. Regression analyses were used to evaluate the effect of baby books on the women's attitudes towards the use of corporal punishment. The findings show that educational baby books provide a low-cost and effective means of changing new mother's attitudes and reducing their use of corporal punishment towards their young children. Study limitations are discussed. Tables and references