Who spares the rod? Religious orientation, social conformity, and child abuse potential

Relatively little research has investigated the connection between religiosity and physical child abuse risk. Certain aspects, such as specific religious orientation or beliefs, and cognitive schema, such as socially conformist beliefs, may account for the connection that some have claimed increase religious parents’ abuse potential. The current study evaluates the role of social conformity and religious orientation, behavior, and beliefs in physical child abuse risk. Given the complexity of religiosity, future research should explore other potential mediating and moderating factors that could further clarify its connection to physical abuse risk.