Extended Abstract

Background and purpose

Most violence against children or "child abuse" takes place in the home and by family members. Child abuse is a form of "domestic violence". The World Health Organization (WHO) defines child abuse as Child abuse in all forms of physical, emotional, sexual, neglect, exploitation, or exploitation of a child in a relationship based on responsibility. Trust and power refer to the actual or potential harm to a child's health, survival, growth, and dignity (1994; Khak Rangin and Fathi, 2009: 128).

In recent decades, along with foreign researchers, domestic researchers have also studied the phenomenon of child abuse and its roots, and many studies in this field are available. Due to this multiplicity, there is a kind of ambiguity in the field of recognizing the factor or important influencing factors. Therefore, the present study tries to use the meta-analysis method to present a summary of the studies coherently to reach a general and comprehensive summary of the most important factors affecting child abuse. To be more precise, the present study seeks to answer the basic question that in the scientific research conducted in the field of child abuse, what factor or factors have the most and the least impact on the incidence of child abuse in Iranian society?

Method

The method used in this study is meta-analysis. Among the various methods of performing and implementing meta-analysis, Hunter and Schmidt's method was used in this study (Ghazi Tabatabai, 2010: 201).

To perform a meta-analysis based on the basic assumptions of this method, the researchers that have examined the issue of child abuse using a quantitative method were selected by a census. The selected researches were published from 2001 through 2009 in the form of master's and doctoral dissertations or the form of articles. Among more than 87 documents examined, 18 documents were identified as suitable for meta-analysis.

Results

The analytical findings of the study showed that there is a significant and acceptable relationship between all variables related to victim characteristics and family characteristics with the rate of child abuse (P=0.000). The table below shows the results of the meta-analysis:

Table 1.

Meta-analysis findings of child abuse research hypotheses

1. A) The relationship between family characteristics and child abuse

The relationship between custody status and child abuse in the 8 hypotheses studied is equal to 0.227 positive and significant and weak. The relationship between mother and child abuse education in 6 studies is 0.468 positive and significant and moderate. The results of random combination effects show that the relationship between the family dimension and child abuse in the 5 hypotheses examined is equal to 0.221, positive and weak. The relationship between the history of child abuse in parents' childhood and child abuse in 5 studies, equal to 0.222, is positive and significant and the extent of its effect is poor. The relationship between family social isolation and child abuse in the 5 hypotheses examined is equal to 0.473, positive and significant, and moderate. The relationship between the existence of conflict and conflict in family relationships and child abuse in the 9 hypotheses examined is equal to 0.602, positive and significant, and high. The relationship between father and child abuse education in the 7 hypotheses examined is equal to 0.461, positive and significant, and moderate. The employment relationship between mother and child abuse is positive and significant in the 5 hypotheses examined, equal to 0.222. This independent variable has a small or weak effect on child abuse. The results of random combination effects show that the relationship between the socio-economic status of the family and child abuse, equivalent to 0.448, is positive and significant at the intermediate level. Also, the employment relationship between father and child abuse, equal to 0.188, is positive and significant and at a weak level. The results of random effects show that the relationship between parental addiction and child abuse in the 5 hypotheses examined is equal to 0.388, positive and significant, and moderate. Finally, the relationship between physical and psychological problems of parents and child abuse, equal to 0.268, is positive and significant and evaluated at a weak level.

1. B) The relationship between the characteristics of the victim and his harassment

The results of the study showed that some factors and special characteristics of children increase the risk of abuse. The two variables of age and gender indicate the characteristics of children and affect them as a result of their victimization of violence. The results of random effects show that gender differences also lead to differences in the extent and severity of the child. is harassed. In a way, the relationship between child sex and child abuse in the 6 hypotheses examined is equal to 0.089, positive and significant, and to a very weak extent. Also, the relationship between child age and child abuse is positive and significant in the 5 hypotheses examined, equal to 0.247. Thus, the independent variable of child age has an almost moderate effect on child abuse.

Conclusion

According to the research findings, it can be said that the focus of programs and practical and theoretical measures to reduce violence against children should first of all be on the family system and relationships and interactions between family members. It is noteworthy that considering the cultural context of the Iranian-Islamic society and the deep-rooted religious spirit among Iranian families, one can learn from the teachings of Islam in the field of interactions and actions between parents. And the parent-child benefited. Teachings that can be effective by considering special subtleties and paying attention to the child-adult temperaments and the rights and duties of the two. In this way, an effective step can be taken to reduce child abuse in society. The culture-centered approach, which views violence against children as an educational principle, must also be changed. In this regard, efforts should be made to make members of the community aware that child abuse will have negative effects, even based on a reformist and educational orientation. In addition, measures can be taken at the governmental and governmental levels. Among them is the adoption and implementation of up-to-date and comprehensive laws to protect children in the legal system of society, so that child abusers, both at the family level and the external level can be punished for violence. Reach for it.

Ethical Considerations 

Compliance with ethical guidelines

This study has been carried out following the ethical codes of human research.

Funding: The present study was conducted without the financial support of the organization or any other person.

Authors’ contribution: The lead author was in charge of writing the text of the article and the second author was in charge of supervising and guiding the writing.

Conflict of interest: This research does not directly or indirectly conflict with legal and real interests.

Acknowledgments: All research participants who have cooperated with the researcher to collect research data are appreciated. The word counts above are a suggestion to keep the material balanced. Deviations are allowed.