Low Intensity Intimate Partner Aggression as a Mediating Factor for the Intergenerational Transmission of Physical Punishment of Children in South Sudan

The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between victimisation from physical punishment (PP) as a child and subsequent perpetration of PP against one’s own children, and additionally whether this transmission is mediated by low intensity intimate partner aggression (IPA). A questionnaire was completed by 302 females and 118 males in South Sudan. The mean age was 22.5 years (SD 8.4) for women, and 25.6 years (SD 7.8) for males. Physical punishment was measured with the Brief Physical Punishment Scale[1], and perpetration of physical and nonverbal low intensity IPA was measured with two scales from the Direct & Indirect Aggression Scales for Adults.[2] It was found that childhood victimisation from PP and perpetration of PP against one’s own children were highly correlated for both females and males. The relationship between PP during childhood and perpetration of PP as an adult was mediated by perpetration of physical and nonverbal IPA. The effect of sex of the parent as a moderator was not significant. Conclusively, the intergenerational transmission of PP of children in the sample was substantial, and perpetration of IPA mediated the relationship for both females and males.