Does Child Maltreatment Connote Wicked in Adulthood? A Study among Delinquents in Ahwaz Penitentiaries

Abstract

S Child abuse refers to any kind of trauma, traf ficking, physical, psychic, and sexual abuse. This study takes into account the relationship between child abuse by parents and the wicked of those children in adulthood. Wicked behaviour is reported to be the second criminal pattern among juvenile delinquents in Khuzistan (18%), following theft. Studies have alluded to multi-faceted variables relating to child abuse. However , child mistreatment is a major factor resulting in delinquency in adulthood among the abused children. The sample of the study is 86 inmates of wicked behaviour in Ahwaz penitentiaries, arrested in 2009. The instrument of child abuse could be categorised into four , as formulated in the literature, that is beating and physical abuse, psychic abuse, sexual harassment, and neglect with internal validity as a=0.82. Findings indicate a significant relationship with age, literacy , family members and crime intensity. Majority of the prisoners were abused by parents, especially by the father and male family members. The child abuse ranges from emotional, social, psychic, sexual and physical abuse as well as neglect. The study recommends the formation of a social network system with powerful judiciary authority for prevention of child abuse, and creating awareness of child abuse among students.