engleski

Emotional and physical abuse in family : survey among high school adolescents

To determine the prevalence of different forms of child abuse among high school pupils in Slavonski Brod, Croatia. The study included 2140 first and fourth grade pupils aged between 14 and 18 years from all 10 high schools in Slavonski Brod and the area (four general and six vocational schools). The pupils were asked to complete an anonymous structured questionnaire during a 45-minute class. The questionnaire developed for the needs of this study inquired about basic demographic data, family life, and experience of emotional or physical abuse. First-grade pupils were more satisfied with family life than fourth-grade pupils (96.9 % vs 91.3 %, P<0.001, 2 test). Feeling insufficiently loved or unloved was reported by 17.5 % of the first-grade and 24.6 % of the fourth-grade pupils and more by pupils whose parents were divorced or who had a stepparent. Almost 80% of pupils had been verbally or nonverbally punished for disobedience. Emotional abuse was significantly associated with female sex (Nagelkerke R = 0.87, &#61538; = 0.474, P=0.028), younger age (&#61538; =1.263, P<0.001), and alcoholism in family (&#61538; =2.037, P<0.001). Physical punishment for disobedience was reported significantly more often by 15.6% of first-grade and 12.9% of fourth-grade pupils (P= 0.021, &#61539; 2 test). Physical abuse was significantly associated (Nagelkerke R=0.69) with younger age (&#61538; = 0.379, P<0.012), emotional abuse (&#61538; = 0.665, P<0.002), alcoholism in family (&#61538; = 1.791, P&#61500; 0.001) and lack of parental love (&#61538; = -0.645, P<0.001). Possible sexual molestation was admitted by 6.0 % boys and 3.3 % girls. Most high school pupils in Slavonski Brod were satisfied with life at home. Most were verbally or non-verbally punished for disobedience by the parents. Physical punishment was less common and usually did not result in serious injuries.

child abuse; emotional abuse; physical abuse; adolescents; family

nije evidentirano