NCJ Number
237871
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 25 Issue: 7 Dated: July 2010 Pages: 1298-1308
Date Published
July 2010
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This article examines childhood physical abuse experiences in college students.
Abstract
The main objective of this article is to obtain the prevalence of childhood physical abuse experiences in college students. This cross-sectional study was performed on a gender-stratified random sample of 988 participants studying at Ondokuz Mayis University, with self-reported anonymous questionnaires. It included questions on physical abuse in childhood, on whom and why the violence was inflicted, and on the reactions exhibited. Of the 988 participants, 527 (53.3 percent) had a history of childhood physical abuse (64.0 percent in men and 41.6 percent in women). The prevalence of being subject to physical violence was 1.5 times higher in men. Mothers more frequently inflicted violence on daughters and fathers on sons. According to participants, most frequent reasons for physical violence were "loss of perpetrator's self-control" and "establishment of discipline at home." The most frequent statement observed among the participants was humiliation after subjection to physical violence. It is concluded that the first (and the most) important preventive measure is to protect and strengthen the social, economic, and judicial status of the Turkish family. Second, it should by all means be prevented that violence remains legal in some social conditions like child abuse. (Published Abstract)