The impact of gender inequality and adverse life experiences on childhood disciplinary practices

The effects of child maltreatment and negative life experiences persist throughout life and are transmitted across generations. This study aims to determine the impact of mothers' disciplinary practices, attitudes, childhood negative life experiences, and perspectives on gender inequality on disciplinary practices, as well as the influence of negative life experiences on perspectives on gender equality. A total of 219 mothers, whose children between the ages of 1 and 12 either visited the outpatient clinic of the Kağızman State Hospital's Department of Pediatrics or were hospitalized, participated in the study. The research is an analytical study that examines whether there is a relationship between mothers' childhood negative life experiences and their perspectives on gender inequality, and the disciplinary practices they apply to their children. To identify mothers' adverse life experiences, the Childhood Adverse Experiences questionnaire, adapted from 'The Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire,' was utilized. The study also employed the Gender Equality Scale to assess their perspectives on gender inequality and the Discipline Standards Questionnaire to evaluate disciplinary practices. As a result, it was determined that mothers with a higher number of children, those from larger families, and those living with other children in the household had higher discipline scores. Mothers who experienced physical abuse, physical and emotional neglect, and dysfunctional family dynamics during their childhood exhibited higher discipline scores. It was found that mothers who experienced sexual abuse during their own childhood did not demonstrate any significant impact on the discipline they apply to their children. Additionally, it was observed that mothers who experienced physical neglect and physical and emotional abuse had higher gender equality scores compared to other mothers. Furthermore, mothers with higher scores on gender equality also had significantly higher discipline scores.