Child maltreatment in China: a cross-sectional study of prevalence and attitudes among young adults

Abstract

BackgroundNo formal child protection system exists in China, and redress can be made only through the legal system. Consequently, all forms of child maltreatment are massively under-reported. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of child maltreatment in China and attitudes towards physical punishment by exploring the experiences of young adults. MethodsA cross-sectional study was carried out in 1255 college students in three colleges in Zhejiang province. A self-administered questionnaire, based on Conflict Tactics Scale—Parent Child and International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (ISPCAN) Child Abuse Screening Tool, was developed to measure childhood (younger than 18 years) experience of different forms of maltreatment, including physical maltreatment, psychological aggression, and sexual abuse, and attitudes towards discipline. All participants gave informed consent. The study was approved by Zhejiang University Ethics Board. Data was analysed in SPSS 22.0. FindingsParticipants were aged 17–26 years; 640 (51%) were female, 733 (59%) were from rural areas, and 506 (41%) were from urban areas, with 167 (13%) from self-reported high-income backgrounds, 824 (67%) from middle-income backgrounds, and 246 (20%) from low-income backgrounds (some participants did not provide data for residence and family income background). 1014 (81%) had experienced physical maltreatment, 1026 (82%) psychological aggression, and 170 (14%) sexual abuse. Most common forms of maltreatment by parents were hitting or punching (54%), hitting with implements (29%), threatening to spank without doing it actually (29%), insulting (22%), and forcing to stand or kneel in a humiliating or painful way (19%). 473 (38%) were forced to stand or kneel, and 406 (32%) were insulted by teachers. Among college students who experienced physical maltreatment, 763 (75%) thought that it was necessary for good discipline and thus justified. 364 (43%) of 842 thought hitting and punching were not harmful, with 161 (35%) of 464 saying that the use of implements, 137 (39%) of 350 saying that kicking, and 257 (40%) of 644 reporting that being forced to stand or kneel were not harmful. However, experience of psychological aggression was widely perceived as harmful; 544 (89%) of 614 who were insulted, 60 (78%) of 77 who were told they were not loved, 92 (80%) of 115 who wished they were dead, and 118 (67%) of 177 threatened with abandonment felt that such verbal maltreatment had caused short-term and long-term harm. InterpretationChild maltreatment is common in China. However, experience of psychological aggression was perceived to be more harmful than physical maltreatment, which has important implications for parenting advice and should help to inform the nascent development of a child protection system in China. FundingChina Scholar Council (CSC) and Universities' China Committee in London (UCCL).