Abstract
Corporal punishment is a highly debated method of discipline. Many parents get conflicting information regarding the negative effects of corporal punishment. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between corporal punishment and adult child – parent relationships. This quantitative survey research study used secondary data from surveys of 48 men and women who filled out a questionnaire as part of an adoption process. A non-probability quota sampling design was used to select the questionnaires. Protestant Christian fathers were found to spank more frequently than fathers who were not Protestant Christian and this finding was statistically significant using the chi-square test. In addition, males were statistically less likely to describe their relationship with their mother as “best friends” compared to females, using the chi-square test. Implications for social work practice and policy are discussed.