CONSERVATIVE PROTESTANTISM AND THE PARENTAL USE OF CORPORAL PUNISHMENT

The present study develops arguments linking Conservative Protestant a ffiliation and conservative beliefs about the Bible with the frequency with which physical punishment is used to discipline toddlers and pre schoolers (ages 1-4) and older children (ages 5-11) and explores these ideas using data from the 1987-88 National Survey of Families and Hou seholds (NSFH). Multivariate results generally confirm that parents wi th conservative scriptural beliefs use corporal punishment more freque ntly than parents with less conservative theological views. Some modes t net effects of Conservative Protestant affiliation are also observed . The study identifies several promising directions for future researc h on religious variations in child discipline.