Associations between child disciplinary pratices and bullying behavior in adolescents

Abstract

Objective: to investigate associations between different types of child disciplinary practices and children and adolescents’ bullying behavior in a Brazilian sample. Methods: cross-sectional study, with a school-based sample of 10- to 15-year-old children and adolescents. Child disciplinary practices were assessed using two main subtypes: powerassertive and punitive (psychological aggression, corporal punishment, deprivation of privileges, and penalty tasks) and inductive (explaining, rewarding, and monitoring). A modified version of the Olweus Bully Victim Questionnaire was used to measure the frequency of bullying. Results: 247 children and adolescents were evaluated and 98 (39.7%) were classified as bullies. Power-assertive and punitive discipline by either mother or father was associated with bullying perpetration by their children. Mothers who mostly used this type of discipline were 4.36 (95% CI: 1.87-10.16; p < 0.001) times more likely of having a bully child. Psychological aggression and mild forms of corporal punishment presented the highest odds ratios. Overall inductive discipline was not associated with bullying. Conclusions: bullying was associated to parents’ assertive and punitive discipline. Finding different ways of disciplining children and adolescents might decrease bullying behavior.