Parental Socio-Economic Status and Child Abuse: Evidence From Upper Basic Education Students in Northern Senatorial District of Cross River State

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between parental socio-economic status, physical abuse, and emotional abuse among Upper Basic Education students in the Northern Senatorial District of Cross River State. Two research questions guided the study, and two hypotheses were tested at the 0.05 level of significance. The study employed a correlational survey design. The population comprised 12,892 Upper Basic Education students across 102 Basic Education Schools, while a sample of 384 respondents was selected using Glenn’s (2012) formula for sample size determination. Data were collected using three researcher-developed instruments: the Parental Socio-Economic Questionnaire, the Physical Abuse Questionnaire, and the Emotional Abuse Questionnaire. Pearson’s product-moment correlation was used to answer research questions, while linear regression tested the hypotheses. Results revealed a significant negative correlation between parental socio-economic status and physical abuse (r = –0.42, p < 0.01), as well as between socio-economic status and emotional abuse (r = –0.36, p < 0.01). These findings suggest that students from lower socio-economic backgrounds are at greater risk of both physical and emotional abuse. The study recommended that counsellors and teachers should intensify awareness campaigns to educate parents and communities on the harmful effects of abuse and promote nurturing home environments, particularly in economically disadvantaged settings.