Most cases of physical child abuse occur within the family

A recent study by researchers from Curtin University in Australia, published in the journal Child Maltreatment at the end of October of this year, revealed that one in four Australian children was exposed to physical abuse within the family before they reached the age of ten.

It is recognized that child physical abuse remains a major public health concern globally, as it is associated with significant negative mental and physical health consequences throughout an individual's life. Although the rate of physical attacks has decreased in recent generations, they still include a large segment of children, especially in the younger age group.

The study relied on data from the Australian Study of Child Maltreatment, and researchers focused on 2,623 individuals aged 16 years and older, all of whom reported being exposed to physical abuse during their childhood. The researchers divided the sample members into 3 categories, according to the type of perpetrator, the gender of the victim, and the age group. The perpetrators were classified as family members into five main categories.

The researchers found that rates of physical abuse remain high among Australian children, and most of this abuse was at the hands of a family member, with forms of physical abuse ranging from hitting, punching, or kicking by an adult, to more violent forms such as severe beating, hitting on the head, suffocation, or burning. The study showed that the vast majority of cases of physical abuse occurred within the home, with family members responsible for 85 percent of reported cases.

In cases of children who were abused before the age of ten, it was found that the parents were responsible for the abuse in approximately one out of every three cases. Researchers confirmed that physical abuse of children is often accompanied by other forms of maltreatment, and is also associated with an increased risk of suicide attempts and children engaging in violence and bullying.

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