Attitudes of Caribbean and Canadian undergraduate social work students toward the physical punishment of children

A. Objectives 1. To compare the attitudes of graduating Social Work Students in the Caribbean (Barbados) and Canada (Saskatchewan) to the use of child physical punishment (CPP). 2. To determine if there is a difference in... [ view full abstract ]

A. Objectives
1. To compare the attitudes of graduating Social Work Students in the Caribbean (Barbados) and Canada (Saskatchewan) to the use of child physical punishment (CPP).
2. To determine if there is a difference in attitudes between the two groups and if their attitudes are reflective of other members in their location.
3. To identify a role for social work education in reducing tolerance for CCP.
B. Methodology
The quantitative investigation used a ten point attitudinal survey. The questionnaire sought information on the attitudes of undergraduate students to CPP and also demographic information on participants. The questionnaire developed by George Holden "Attitudes towards Spanking/Slapping a Child" was used (by permission) for collecting data. In both locations it was completed by final year social work students (Canada n=35 and Barbados n=24) during class time. The consent of students was sought and permission was gained for the research from the Institutional Review Boards in both locations. Following the completion of the survey all participants participated in a discussion/debriefing session on the topic of child abuse.
C. Results:
The data were analysed using SPSS. The results revealed some marked differences in the attitudes of the students in the different locations to CPP e.g. whereas 71% of the Barbadian students agreed that "spanking a child is a normal part of parenting" only 14% of the Canadian students agreed with this statement. Also while only 20% of Canadian students agreed that "sometimes spanking is necessary to instil proper moral and social conduct" 50% of the Barbadian sample agreed to this statement.
D. Conclusion
Based on the findings of the research, social work education in the Caribbean, Canada and elsewhere has a role to play in reducing tolerance for CPP in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child and ethical practice.