Parenting Practices and Attitudes and the Role of Belief in Supernatural Evil: Results From a National U.S. Survey

Abstract

Research on parenting has explored a variety of religious factors affecting child-rearing outcomes but has devoted limited attention to supernatural evil. We extend this work by examining the relationship between parents’ belief in supernatural evil and their child-rearing outcomes. We propose that parents with greater belief in supernatural evil practice “supernatural risk management,” and they use parenting orientations more closely associated with obedience and control to counter the potential influence of supernatural antagonists. Using a national survey of Americans with a multi-item index of belief in supernatural evil, we estimate models predicting five parenting outcomes: corporal punishment, using time outs, praising a child instead of disciplining, closely monitoring children, and closely monitoring children’s entertainment intake. We find partial support for our hypothesis as belief in supernatural evil is positively associated with corporal punishment, while negatively associated with believing praise is more important than discipline, and closely monitoring one’s child.