Prevalence of physical, psychological, and sexual abuse among a nationwide sample of Arab high school students: association with family characteristics, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and quality of life
Affiliations
Affiliations
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait.
Abstract
Objectives: The objectives were first, to assess the lifetime and 12-month prevalence of physical, psychological, and sexual abuse among a stratified random sample of Kuwaiti high school students and second, to explore the association of child abuse with parental characteristics, subjective quality of life (QOL), self-esteem, anxiety, and depression.
Method: We assessed the students for experience of abuse by their mothers, fathers, and others, using standard scales on psychological, physical and sexual abuse. They also completed the short version of the World Health Organization's QOL Instrument; the Rosenberg self-esteem scale, and a scale for anxiety and depression.
Results: We obtained responses from 4,467 students (49% boys), mean age 16.9 years. About 18, 15, and 18%, indicated that for at least six times in the past 12 months, they experienced psychological abuse by their mothers, fathers and others, respectively. The corresponding figures for lifetime experience were similar. The respective figures for experience of physical abuse during the past 12 months were 4.3, 5.8, and 6.4%. For lifetime experience, the corresponding figures were 3.4, 5.3, and 5.8%. The girls had significantly higher physical/psychological abuse scores. There were no significant gender differences in the prevalence of sexual attacks (8.6%) and someone threatening the subjects with sex (5.9%). The prevalence of someone sexually exposing themselves to the students (15.3%) and unwanted touching of sexual parts (17.4%) was significantly higher among the boys. Over one-third of those abused had experienced multiple abuses. Child abuse was significantly associated with parental divorce, diminished QOL and self-esteem, high scores on anxiety/depression, and difficulty with studies, and social relationships. In the regression analysis involving only the abuse indices, psychological abuse by mothers was the most important predictor of depression, anxiety, and self-esteem (11.5-19.7% of variance). Good quality of parental relationship seemed protective.
Conclusion: The findings support the impression that, despite the conservative culture, child abuse is being experienced by a significant number of children in the Arab world. Preventive education in this culture should include limits on child disciplinary measures, the vulnerable groups identified, the impact on psychosocial functioning, and the protective effect of parental harmony.
Similar articles
Al-Fayez GA, Ohaeri JU.BMC Psychiatry. 2011 Apr 25;11:71. doi: 10.1186/1471-244X-11-71.PMID: 21518447 Free PMC article.
Shaikh Q, Aljasser DS, Albalawi AM.Ann Saudi Med. 2020 Jan-Feb;40(1):49-54. doi: 10.5144/0256-4947.2020.49. Epub 2020 Feb 6.PMID: 32026708 Free PMC article.
Nilsson D, Nordås E, Pribe G, Svedin CG.Child Abuse Negl. 2017 Aug;70:28-38. doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2017.05.007. Epub 2017 May 25.PMID: 28551459
Parent-training programmes for improving maternal psychosocial health.
Barlow J, Coren E.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004;(1):CD002020. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD002020.pub2.PMID: 14973981 Updated. Review.
Parent-training programmes for improving maternal psychosocial health.
Barlow J, Coren E.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2001;(2):CD002020. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD002020.PMID: 11406024 Updated. Review.
Cited by
Zhan X, Li K, Zheng Y, Yang G, Luo X.Front Public Health. 2022 Nov 17;10:1023749. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1023749. eCollection 2022.PMID: 36466489 Free PMC article.
Correlates of eating disorder pathology in Saudi Arabia: BMI and body dissatisfaction.
Melisse B, Blankers M, de Beurs E, van Furth EF.J Eat Disord. 2022 Aug 24;10(1):126. doi: 10.1186/s40337-022-00652-4.PMID: 36002864 Free PMC article.
Shattnawi KK, Al Ali N, Ma'abreh YM.Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2022 Jun 24. doi: 10.1007/s10578-022-01378-9. Online ahead of print.PMID: 35749050
Bizri M, Ibrahim N, Beyrouthy C, Yamout D, Tamim H, Abiad J, Ghazeeri G.PLoS One. 2022 Jun 15;17(6):e0269700. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269700. eCollection 2022.PMID: 35704645 Free PMC article.
Yang Z, Shang Y, Liang Y, Zhang H, Yang Y, Wang Y, Shang L, Zhang Y.Front Public Health. 2022 Mar 31;10:833561. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.833561. eCollection 2022.PMID: 35433624 Free PMC article.
KMEL References
References
-
- Nurs Health Sci. 2007 Dec;9(4):270-6 - PubMed
-
- Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2009 May;18(5):274-83 - PubMed
-
- Saudi Med J. 2007 Feb;28(2):241-8 - PubMed
-
- Psychol Bull. 1993 Jan;113(1):82-98 - PubMed
-
- Qual Life Res. 2004 Mar;13(2):299-310 - PubMed
-
- Child Maltreat. 2007 Nov;12(4):352-63 - PubMed
-
- Child Abuse Negl. 2005 Sep;29(9):969-84 - PubMed
-
- J Clin Forensic Med. 2004 Oct;11(5):248-56 - PubMed
-
- Child Abuse Negl. 1994 Sep;18(9):705-14 - PubMed
-
- Child Abuse Negl. 1994 May;18(5):409-17 - PubMed
-
- Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2005 Oct;40(10):769-77 - PubMed
-
- East Mediterr Health J. 2002 Jan;8(1):64-73 - PubMed
-
- Child Abuse Negl. 2000 Aug;24(8):1047-59 - PubMed
-
- J Marital Fam Ther. 2008 Jan;34(1):1-13 - PubMed
-
- Child Abuse Negl. 2008 Jan;32(1):5-18 - PubMed
-
- Br J Psychiatry. 2008 Mar;192(3):166-70 - PubMed
-
- JAMA. 1997 Jul 9;278(2):131-5 - PubMed
-
- Child Abuse Negl. 2004 Jan;28(1):77-91 - PubMed
-
- Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2005 Sep;40(9):700-6 - PubMed
-
- Am J Psychiatry. 2003 Aug;160(8):1453-60 - PubMed
-
- Violence Vict. 2009;24(5):653-68 - PubMed
-
- Nord J Psychiatry. 2010;64(1):40-8 - PubMed
-
- J Nerv Ment Dis. 2007 Oct;195(10):797-804 - PubMed
-
- Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2009 Aug;63(4):478-85 - PubMed
-
- J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2008 Apr;36(3):421-32 - PubMed
-
- Arch Pediatr. 2003 Aug;10(8):735-6 - PubMed
-
- Child Abuse Negl. 1994 May;18(5):439-53 - PubMed
-
- Child Abuse Negl. 2000 Oct;24(10):1299-315 - PubMed
-
- Stat Med. 2002 Dec 30;21(24):3865-84 - PubMed
-
- Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2008 Feb;65(2):190-200 - PubMed
-
- J Child Sex Abus. 2009 Jul-Aug;18(4):355-66 - PubMed
-
- Child Abuse Negl. 2008 Jan;32(1):19-34 - PubMed
-
- Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2005 Jul;18(4):422-8 - PubMed
-
- Child Abuse Negl. 1988;12(3):331-41 - PubMed
-
- Child Abuse Negl. 2001 Oct;25(10):1303-27 - PubMed
-
- East Mediterr Health J. 2001 May;7(3):435-40 - PubMed
-
- Child Abuse Negl. 1990;14(1):19-28 - PubMed
-
- Child Maltreat. 2000 Aug;5(3):236-50 - PubMed
-
- Child Abuse Negl. 2003 Oct;27(10):1161-78 - PubMed
-
- Child Abuse Negl. 1983;7(4):375-86 - PubMed
-
- Child Abuse Negl. 1984;8(3):285-93 - PubMed
-
- Child Abuse Negl. 2003 Jul;27(7):781-806 - PubMed
-
- Child Abuse Negl. 1996 May;20(5):411-24 - PubMed
-
- Violence Against Women. 2005 Oct;11(10):1263-91 - PubMed
-
- Violence Vict. 2007;22(5):620-31 - PubMed
-
- Child Abuse Negl. 1998 Dec;22(12):1189-202 - PubMed
-
- East Mediterr Health J. 2003 Sep-Nov;9(5-6):1003-18 - PubMed
-
- Child Abuse Negl. 1998 Oct;22(10):975-85 - PubMed
-
- Acta Med Okayama. 2007 Oct;61(5):271-81 - PubMed
-
- J Pediatr. 2007 Nov;151(5):482-7 - PubMed
-
- Child Abuse Negl. 2007 May;31(5):479-502 - PubMed
-
- BMJ. 2005 Jul 16;331(7509):129 - PubMed
-
- J Pediatr Nurs. 2003 Apr;18(2):140-7 - PubMed
-
- Am J Psychiatry. 2006 Jun;163(6):993-1000 - PubMed
-
- Psychol Med. 2002 Aug;32(6):997-1008 - PubMed
-
- Child Abuse Negl. 1999 Dec;23(12):1275-93 - PubMed