Citation

McClure TE, May DC. Youth Soc. 2008; 39(3): 406-429.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0044118X06296698

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

To test and compare theoretical explanations of the use of corporal punishment in school, the authors examine how well county-level measures of culture, socioeconomic strain, and social capital predict the prevalence and incidence of corporal punishment in Kentucky schools. Although several variables are significantly correlated with corporal punishment use, multi-variate regression analyses reveal that high socioeconomic strain and low levels of social capital are the best predictors of (a) the prevalence of corporal punishment in a county's public school system(s) and (b) a high incidence of corporal punishment in those counties where it is practiced. Explanations and practical implications of these findings are discussed.