Thesis Overview
This article examines the development and application of the “Parental Awareness of Child Neglect and Abuse Scale” (Ebeveyn çocuk ihmal ve istismarı farkındalık ölçeği), a research study conducted as a Master’s thesis by Hazal Begüm Ünal at Hacettepe University, Turkey, in 2017. The study aimed to assess parental awareness regarding child abuse and neglect.
Thesis Details
The thesis titled “Development and implementation of the parent child neglect and abuse awareness scale” was supervised within the Educational Sciences Institute at Hacettepe University in Ankara. The research was developed in response to the increasing necessity for parental guidance in recognizing signs of child abuse and neglect.
Scale Information
The scale is classified as a developmental type and contains 45 items. It utilizes a 5-point Likert scale for responses. Notable items include:
- Individuals who abuse children are often those with alcohol and/or substance addiction.
- It is sufficient for parents to only meet the basic physical needs of their children (housing, nutrition, clothing, healthcare).
- There is no relationship between an adult’s education level and the likelihood of abusing children.
Application and Validity
The scale is applicable to parents of preschool-aged children aiming to measure their awareness regarding child abuse. The validation process revealed that the scale meets the expected values in current literature for item-total correlation and factor loads. Consequently, it was determined that the scale is valid for the proposed research context.
Reliability
The reliability of the scale, consisting of 45 items, was measured with a Cronbach Alpha coefficient of 0.814, indicating good internal consistency.
Research Implications
The findings of this research contribute significantly to areas concerning parenting, family relationships, and child welfare by providing a measurement tool that can highlight awareness levels of child neglect and abuse among parents. It serves as an essential instrument for further studies in psychological and family-related research.
Author and Contact Information
The responsible author of this study is Research Assistant Hazal Begüm Ünal, who can be contacted via email at [email protected].
References
Ünal, HB (2017). Development and implementation of the parent child neglect and abuse awareness scale (Master’s thesis). Hacettepe University Educational Sciences Institute, Ankara.
Download the Scale PDF