Parental Past Experiences and Child Abuse :

Abstract

Purpose of the study: The study intended to establish a relationship between parental past experiences and child abuse.

Objectives of the study: The study aimed at investigating the parental past experiences attributed to child abuse, and to examine whether there is a significant relationship between parental past experiences and child abuse.

Method: The study design used was a cross-sectional correlational study design, employing quantitative method of data collection using a structured parental past experience questionnaire. Consecutive non random sampling technique was used to include all cases reported by police and local council of the area to select the target population. The sample size included 100 respondents. A tool made of three sections (social demographics, questions on the respondent`s childhood experience, support) which were formulated by the researcher through adapting the parental past experience questionnaire was used to collect data. Data was analyzed using SPSS, involving calculation of average, frequency distributions and percentages then inferential statistics (univariate and bivariate) was used to assess the statistical significance of the hypotheses.

Results and Conclusion: The study found that majority of the respondents were 20-40 years (60%), which is the most productive age. There was a significant relationship between parental past experiences and child abuse. The parental past experiences attributed to child abuse include: - low level of education, unemployment, domestic violence, separation or divorce, harsh disciplinary actions, parental substance abuse, absence of support from social network. There is a significant relationship between parental past experiences and child abuse. Thus proving that an abused child will grow up to become a maltreating parent. Thus emphasizing Albert Bandura`s social learning theory which states that,” social learning or observational learning occurs when an individual learns something by observing another person doing it, in other words it is learning by modeling”. It is therefore recommended that the presence of emotionally supportive relationship may help lessen the risk of the intergenerational cycle of abuse.