Children's perspective on corporal punishment-a participatory action research with disadvantaged youth in Manila

• Main Author: Wartenweiler, Daniel
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2012
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/4340
• Institution: De La Salle University

The study investigated the perspective on corporal punishment of adolescents from lowest socio-economic status from an inner city in Manila, employing Participatory Action Research (PAR) as research paradigm. The participants or co-researchers were 11 youth mainly from street families, selected through purposive sampling. Together with two adult researchers they engaged in a process of reflection and action encompassing 16 sessions. The research questions evolved around the co-researchers perceptions of corporal punishment, the emergence and implementation of the action, and the impact of the PAR process. Results showed that the co-researchers frequently experienced harsh forms of corporal punishment, often co-occurring with verbal abuse and such punishment was strongly associated with negative emotions, perceived negative child outcomes and a decreased quality of the parent-child relationship. The co-researchers perceived corporal punishment generally as inappropiate and only justified when administered properly and commensurate with their wrongdoing. They also implied that co-occurring verbal abuse may be worse than corporal punishment and they preferred discipline based on reasoning. The co-researchers planned a social action to address the issue of corporal punishment in their families: they produced a video clip and held a parents meeting where they showed the video and invited the comments of their parents. The research process led to more resilient functioning in the co-researchers, to realizations in their parents, as well as to improvements in the parent-child relationship. The results were discussed in the light of literature on corporal punishment, resilience, and PAR and recommendations for prevention programs and research were made.