The use of physical punishment in the Greek family: selected socio-demographic aspects

Abstract

Founded on data from a larger research study of the use of physical punishment in the Greek family, this paper focuses on selected socio-demographic aspects of the phenomenon. The study involved 591 interviews, based on a structured questionnaire, with mothers of 6-year-old and 12-year-old schoolchildren. We investigated socio-demographic variables in terms of their association with the incidence of physical punishment. The variables included the child's age and gender, the presence of siblings or their being an only child, living in a single or two-parent family, the mother’s age and level of education and the family’s socio-economic status. Ultimately these findings, along with the results of the entire research project, may contribute to the implementation of a comprehensive policy to reduce physical punishment in Greece.