The goal of this correlational study was to explore the relationship between Korean immigrant discipline (e.g., positive, appropriate, and harsh discipline) and children's social competence and behavior problems. Self-report data were collected from 58 mothers and 20 fathers of children aged from 3 to 8 years. Only paternal harsh discipline was positively correlated with children's behavior problems. Among specific discipline strategies, maternal physical affection, correcting misbehaviors, and reasoning were positively correlated with children's social competence. Paternal physical punishment (e.g., spanking, hitting, and raising arms) was positively correlated with children's behavior problems. Immigrant fathers need to learn alternative ways of managing children's misbehaviors. © 2010.

Social competence Children Discipline Behavior problems Korean immigrant

psychological aspect human risk assessment Cohort Studies Mother-Child Relations Internal-External Control comparative study Maternal Behavior control Child Behavior Disorders ethnology United States Humans Asian Americans male Emigrants and Immigrants Acculturation preschool child Asian American Child, Preschool female questionnaire cultural factor Parenting Parent-Child Relations Incidence Article behavior disorder Questionnaires migration cohort analysis child parent relation hostility mother child relation social behavior Child