An Investigation of Child Abused Based on Religious Believes and Self-Esteem of Mothers of Children in 3-6 years of old in Tehran Province

Child abuse is a phenomenon which occurs more or less in different societies. Various factors such as family play roles in occurrence of this issue. Based on Mothers’ role in expansion of child abuse and its negative consequences, the purpose of this study was settled on examination of child abuse based on religious believes and self-esteem of Mothers of children in 3-6 years of old.

The research approach was quantitative, non-experimental, and correlational-comparative casual one. Sample population of this study was preschool children of Tehran Province. Using multi-stage cluster sampling, the sample size was determined by Cochran formula 225 children (130 girls and 95 boys) in age category of 3-6 years of old. Coopersmith Self-esteem Scale, Glock-Stark Religiosity Questionnaire, and Child Abuse Questionnaire were used in current study. The data was analyzed by Multi-regression with SPSS 23-v.

Results of this study showed that there was a meaningful and negative correlation between mental child abuse and religious believes. Also, there was a significant and negative relationship between total religiosity and child abuse. In addition, the result of multi-variate regression analysis indicated that occurrence of child abuse can be predicted by the level of self-esteem.

Based on findings of the research child abuse is predictable. When selfesteem is strengthened in Mothers, child abuse decreases relatively, therefore; increasing self-esteem in Mothers by appropriate training may prevent child abuse. Moreover, stabilization of religiosity in different dimensions can prevent mental child abuse.