PREDICTING SPANKING OF YOUNGER AND OLDER CHILDREN BY MOTHERS AND FATHERS

We examine parents' characteristics that influence the incidence of sp anking as a discipline strategy in younger and older children. Data we re analyzed from the National Survey of Families and Households. We fo und that different combinations of blocks of predictor variables influ enced spanking in eight subsamples. Belsky's model of competent parent ing was employed to explain differences in spanking as a discipline st rategy. Subsample profiles of spanking suggest that a variety of inter ventions are needed to decrease this frequently used parenting strateg y.