Understanding harsh discipline in parent-child relationships

Parent Self-Regulation, Parent-Child Coregulation, and Harsh Discipline

NIH-funded research Pennsylvania State University, the · NIH-10677575

This study looks at what makes some parents use tough discipline methods and how their feelings and interactions with their kids play a role, with the hope of finding better ways to help families avoid harsh discipline that can hurt children's growth.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionPennsylvania State University, the NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (University Park, United States)
Project IDNIH-10677575 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the factors that contribute to harsh discipline practices among parents, focusing on how individual parent behaviors and the interactions between parents and children influence these practices. By examining emotional and biological responses, as well as the regulatory processes within parent-child dyads, the study aims to identify key areas for intervention. The goal is to develop strategies that can effectively reduce the use of harsh discipline, which is known to have negative effects on children's development.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research include parents of children aged 0-11 who may be using harsh discipline methods.

Not a fit: Parents who do not engage in harsh discipline or those whose children are outside the age range of 0-11 may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved parenting strategies that promote healthier parent-child relationships and better emotional outcomes for children.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that interventions targeting parent-child interactions can effectively reduce harsh discipline practices, indicating that this approach has potential for success.

Where this research is happening

University Park, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.