with spanking predicting child receptive language capacity
as assessed by the PPVT at age 9
(for full results including coefficients for
all control variables, see Supplemental
Table 5). In Model 1, only high-frequency
paternal spanking at age 5 was significantly
associated with lower PPVT
scores at age 9. In Model 2, after controls
were added for the child characteristics
and family sociodemographic
variables, high-frequency paternal
spanking at age 5 continued to significantly
predict later reduced PPVT
scores. Similarly, in Model 3, even with
the addition of the control for maternal
cognitive capacity (WAIS-R Similarities
score), high-frequency paternal spanking
continued to be a more powerful
predictor of later PPVT scores. Model 4
added in the final controls of child externalizing
behavior and PPVT score at
age 3, which as expected were both
significant predictors of age 9 PPVT
performance. Here we see a decrease in
the estimated effect of high-frequency paternal spanking