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Preventing child abuse and neglect with parents of young children in Croatia

Recent data from interviews with nationally representative samples indicate that 5% of parents of six-months-olds, 15% of parents of one-year-olds, 36% of parents of three-year olds report hitting a child once or more times in the period of 7 days prior to the study, while 21%, 60% and 80% respectively report yelling at the child within the same period (Pecnik, 2013). Lack of positive parent interaction with the child was found for 10% of children. In favour of corporal punishment are 12% of parents while 17% report being ‘neither for nor against’ (N=1621). As the most effective ways to prevent corporal punishment, parents see receiving support in coping with personal difficulties and exhaustion (66%) and in acquiring skills of nonviolent upbringing (50%). Against this background, the objective of the poster is to present a parenting support program for parents of young children 'Growing Up Together' (manual by Pecnik & Starc, 2010, UNICEF Office for Croatia) and results of its evaluation. Method: Pre- and post-intervention self-report data have been collected from parents who had completed the program of 11 weekly workshops from 2010 to 2013 in 151 groups in Croatia (N=1280) and in 24 groups in Bosnia&Hercegovina(N=203). Majority of participants had university degree (48%) and were mothers (91%). Measures included Beliefs about the young child (Pecnik, et al., , 2011), Perceived efficacy as a parent (Gibaud-Wallston & Wandersman, 1978) , Parent-child interaction scale (Pećnik & Starc, 2010.) and qualitative data. Results: After completing the Program, parents report less hitting of a child, less yelling, more frequent positive interaction and higher parental self-efficacy. Their beliefs are more consistent with children’s' rights. Conclusion: The program ‘Growing Up Together’ may be effective in fostering positive, non-violent parenting of young children.

parenting support; corporal punishment; prevention

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