Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the link between violence in homes, focusing on corporal punishment of children as a means of discipline, and other behaviours (including sexual abuse, illegal drug use, domestic violence, hitting of pets) which may be a cause for concern. This paper reports the results of a survey of 933 people and 12 case studies. Violence, physical or domestic, occurred in 62% of survey participants’ homes. The survey indicated that in respondents’ homes many children were physically hurt as a means of discipline. Children were spanked in 77% of homes with children, pets were hit in 25% of homes with pets, and domestic violence was found in 23% of homes. These findings suggest that those who use violence in their homes may not understand the wider and longer-term consequences of their actions for both victims and society. Case study participants seemed to view only severe physical violence as abuse. They also appeared reluctant to report abuse to the authorities which can hamper the efforts to curb violence in homes
Highlights
The link between various forms of violence in the home, namely child abuse, domestic violence and animal abuse, has been receiving ever greater attention by researchers such as Ascione and Arkow (1999) and Lockwood and Ascione (1998)
It is expected that statistics such as these and a constant flow of media reports concerning child abuse underpin the growing concern of the Bahamian public regarding the abuse of children, domestic violence and the care of children (Palmer, Lowe, Hepburn, Strachan, Symonette, & Moss, 2008)
This study confirmed that the use of violence towards children in respondents’ homes was common and even more likely in homes where there was domestic violence
Summary
The link between various forms of violence in the home, namely child abuse, domestic violence and animal abuse, has been receiving ever greater attention by researchers such as Ascione and Arkow (1999) and Lockwood and Ascione (1998). Violence towards children Since 1990, there has been a marked rise in the number of reported incidences of child abuse despite the existence of many groups working to improve child welfare in The Bahamas (Brennen & Social Work 420 Students, 2008). It is expected that statistics such as these and a constant flow of media reports concerning child abuse underpin the growing concern of the Bahamian public regarding the abuse of children, domestic violence and the care of children (Palmer, Lowe, Hepburn, Strachan, Symonette, & Moss, 2008). This concern has been noted by researchers outside of the country.
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