Conflict resolution tactics between mothers and children in a capital city in southeastern Brazil: prevalence and correlations.
Laura Fontes Silva, Franciéle Marabotti Costa Leite
PMID 41972903WHAT IT FOUND
Among 418 mothers in Brazil, most used non-violent discipline, but many also reported aggressive tactics: 81.8% yelled, 70.8% spanked, 61.7% threatened slaps, and 23.4% hit other body parts with objects.
Key findings
01Most mothers reported non-violent discipline: 88.8% explained why behavior was wrong, 76.8% used time-out, 60.8% gave another activity, and 68.9% withdrew privileges.
02Psychological aggression was common: 81.8% yelled or screamed, 61.7% threatened to slap but did not, 25.4% called their children donkeys or stupid, 14.8% cursed or swore, and 9.8% threatened to kick the child out.
03Physical assault was common: 70.8% spanked the buttocks, 56.2% hit with objects, 49.5% slapped hands, arms, or legs, 35.9% shook the child, 30.9% pinched, and 23.4% hit other body parts with objects.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Self-reported answers from mothers can be affected by recall and socially desirable responses, so aggressive tactics may be underreported. Two severe physical abuse items were removed after pilot testing, so severe abuse was not measured. The study used yes/no presence of tactics, not frequency or severity, so it cannot say how often or how badly children were hit. It was cross-sectional, so it cannot show that any tactic caused child harm. The sample was from one capital city, so it may not represent all of Brazil.
Declared interests
The study was funded by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa e Inovação do Espírito Santo (FAPES) through the 09/2020 PPSUS notice; the supplied text does not report author conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that most mothers are violent or that positive discipline is ineffective. The study reports self-reported tactics from one Brazilian city, and the same mothers also reported non-violent discipline; it did not test child outcomes or interventions.