Differences in the frequency of child abuse in the family and in school

Vesna Bilić

Summary:  The research conducted included 602 participants, i.e., second-year high school pupils from the Republic of Croatia. The hypothesis tested in the research was that the physical and emotional abuse of children is more frequent at home than at school. The following modified instruments were used in the research: a questionnaire on stressful events at home and in school (for measuring physical abuse) and a questionnaire on childhood abuse (for measuring emotional abuse). The results show that physical abuse is significantly more frequent at home than in school (F = 127.1; p < 0,01). A statistically significant interaction between the »place« of abuse and gender (F = 4,301; p < 0,03) was also established. Girls are more frequently abused at home and compared to girls, boys are more frequently abused at school. Emotional abuse is also statistically and significantly more frequent at home than at school (F = 43,179; p < 0,00), and an interaction between the place of abuse and gender (F = 8,385; p < 0,00) was also established. Girls are more frequently emotionally abused at home. The results obtained can be explained by the fact that all types of abuse are legally prohibited and socially condemned at school, whereas based on the excuse of »privacy and secrecy«, abuse in the family remains unnoticed and is rarely sanctioned.