The Attitude toward Child Abuse in Korea

Ahn, Dong Hyun; Park, Hyun Sun; Lee, Hyun Jung

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Child abuse is not an uncommon occurrence in Korea. Despite the significant progression the child abuse study suffers from methodological difficultes including that child abuse has never been adequately or reliably defined. Therefore, authors surveyed the attitudes toward child abuse and defined the concept of child abuse more reliably.
METHODS
We used the survey questionnaire with the vignette based on clinical cases. The survey included 405 persons in general population living in Seoul and 125 professional personnel engaged in child welfare business. The survey was done by trained university students of social welfare. Questionnaire composed of 14 vignettes(6 physical abuse cases ; 3 neglect cases ; five emotional abuse cases). Each vignette contained 3 items composed of decisiveness and permissiveness of child abuse and the rationale about the determination of the abuse.
RESULTS
First, the irrational rationale for parental behavior or very serious inflictions and injury on child were usually considered as abusive behavior. However, parents or teacher may be often allowed to inflict abuse upon the children for the correction or discipline. Second, neglect in considered as an unaccepatable serious child abuse at a high rate. Third, the most important factor determining the criteria of the abuse, was the motivation for discipline. At that times procedure or injury can be ignored. Fourth, some vignettes were considered as abusive but permissible. This discrepancy between concept and acceptance were not unpredicted but notable. Professional group had higher rates of abuse, but was more permissive than general population group. Both of general population and professional groups showed similar patterns in other parts.
CONCLUSION
We suggest that the definiuon of child abuse should include the neglect and emotional abuse as well as physical abuse or battering(or corporal punishment) despite of the methodological difficulties. Several factors including the motivation for discipline should be considered in the definition, and the discrepancy between concept and acceptance of child abuse also need to be considered.