The gender factor influences the characteristics of the parental role and the parental social cognitions related to the child. In this way the discipline methods used by parents show special characteristics according to the gender of the parents and the child. The present study, using a sample of 3747 parents from Romania, follows the use of physically violent discipline methods by the gender of parents and children, in three different age groups of the child (12, 14 and 16 years old). The results show that both mothers and fathers use more often physical discipline methods, if their child is a boy. In the case of mothers, the use of physical discipline is decreasing as the child grows, while the fathers use most often physical discipline methods with their 13-14 years old children.
Key words: gender, discipline methods, physical violence

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