An Examination of Child Neglect In Terms of Socio-Demographic Variables

Child neglect is the situation where adults are incapable of meeting the needs, maintaining the wellbeing and providing protection for the children under their care. In order to prevent child neglect, it is crucial to identify the families in the risk group. In this regard, identifying the socio-demographic factors relevant to child neglect would help in identifying the children under the risk. Thus, this study aimed to examine child neglect in terms of sociodemographic variables. The participants of the study consisted of 402 secondary school students in Ankara, Turkey. The students were administered “Socio-Demographic Information Form” in order to gather socio-demographic information. The students were also administered “Multidimensional Neglectful Behavior Scale (10-15 Years Form)” in order to assess their neglect experiences by their parents. As a result, it was found that children’s neglect experiences by their mothers and fathers differed according to children’s age, grade level, school success, whether they spend time on social media, the level of their relationships with their parents and whether they actively spend time with their mothers and fathers. It was also found that children’s neglect experiences differed according to the age and education level of their fathers. As a result of the research, certain proposals as with the prevention of child neglect were brought for the prevention of child neglect.