Wellington City Libraries Palm Tree Blossoming of Our Children - Kia Puawai Ngā Tamariki - 10th Australasian Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect

Physical Discipline in Sweden and New Zealand


 

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Author

My Wilkstedt and Tamar Murachver

Speaker

My Wilkstedt and Tamar Murachver

Organisation

University Of Otago       

Physical punishment of children has been associated with a wide range of negative child outcomes. Sweden was the first country to explicitly prohibit physical punishment of children. This makes it particularly suitable country with which to make any comparisons with in the area of parental discipline. The overall aim of the present study was to understand why some parents use physical punishment and some do not. This aim encompassed three goals. 
  • Firstly, to understand the links between specific belief systems and parents use of physical punishment.
  • Secondly, to identify parental beliefs systems that might moderate the use of physical punishment.
  • And lastly, to better understand about the care, support and protection provided for children by society.

One hundred parents of three to eight-years-old children in New Zealand and Sweden were interviewed.

Parents were assessed on their

  1. disciplining methods,
  2. attitudes and values about childrearing,
  3. understanding of child development, and
  4. attitudes towards violence in home and society.

Results indicated qualitative differences in the way in which physical punishment by parents is used in New Zealand and Sweden. Results also revealed that parental belief systems were related to parents' use of physical discipline. The present findings suggest that parents' use of physical punishment be understood in terms of the specific belief systems that either promote or inhibit the use of it.

Presentation

Paper

Biography

I was born and socialised in Sweden. I moved to New Zealand five years ago to study psychology at the University of Otago in Dunedin. I completed my undergraduate studies in 2003 where after I moved to Auckland for further studies. In 2004, I graduated with a postgraduate diploma in psychology from University of Auckland. I then returned to the University of Otago to commence a Master's thesis. Throughout my studies I have enjoyed working with children in different areas (as a preschool teacher, treatment assistant for children with psychological problems, pedagogue for children with autism, and camp-leader for children from disadvantaged backgrounds). It therefore seemed natural I did my thesis on children's issues. Since the day I initiated my thesis I have become increasingly aware of children's place in society and the extent to which we need to prioritise their precious lives.