CORRELATES FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL, PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL AND RITUALISTIC FORMS OF CHILD ABUSE AMONG HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE NORTHERN PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA

Abstract

Abstract Objective: This is an investigation into the correlates for child psychological, physical, emotional, and ritualistic abuse among high school students in the Northern Province of South Africa. Method: 414 students in standards 9 and 10 in three representative high schools filled in a retrospective self-rating questionnaire in a classroom setting. The questionnaire asked for age and some hypothesised correlates; psychological, physical, and emotional abusive experiences from their parents or adult caretakers before the age of 17 years, ritualistic abusive experiences before the age of 17 years; and whether they perceive themselves as abused or not. Result: Result shows that correlates for psychological abuse are race ‘Not Black’ (i.e. white, coloured, other), ethnicity ‘Not Northern Sotho’ (e.g. other ethnic groups), ‘Father Employed and Not as Labourer’ ‘Mother Employed and Not as Labourer’, ‘Stepparent Present During Childhood’, and participant having ‘More than 2 Good Friends’; for physical abu...