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The relationship between child abuse and domestic violence in the lower socio-economic families in Pakistan was focused with the assumption of high prevalence of child abuse in families with high domestic violence. Sample comprised 73 children (43 girls & 30 boys) of 7-12 years and 73 mothers. The data were collected from suburbs of Lahore. Measures used were Child Abuse Scale (Malik & Shah, 2007) and Conflict Tactics Scale (Straus & Gelles, 1986). The results suggested high child abuse in the families with high domestic violence. Domestic violence, family size, and mothers' education were significant determinants of child abuse, whereas fathers' education did not contribute in domestic violence. The results are discussed in peculiar social context of Pakistan.
Keywords: Child abuse, domestic violence, SES, family size
Violence and aggression between members of the family have been considered to be a part of the rich pattern of family life since centuries. Historically violence has been regarded as an acceptable way for adults especially men to exert power and control over the behavior of their relatives and dependents. Clinical observations, empirical research, daily newspapers, and news bulletins have increased public awareness and forced us to recognize that violence within the family is a common phenomenon of society today that occurs across most cultures (Levinson, 1989).
The exercise of physical force by adults in the family results in child abuse, spouse abuse, elder abuse, and etc. These forms of violence represent the exertion of power and control by one family member over another (Dobash & Dobash, 1979). Global scenario regarding domestic violence presents quite a grimmer picture where world wide at least, one woman in every three has been reported to be beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime and most often the abuser was a member of her own family (Heise, Ellsberg, & Gottemoeller, 1999). Physical violence was estimated to occur in 4 to 6 million intimate relationships each year in the United States (Rodriguez, Bauer, Mclaughlin, & Grumbach, 1999). Approximately four million American women experienced a serious assault by an intimate partner during a 12-month period (American Psychological Assiciation; APA, 2000). It has been estimated that a domestic partner assaulted 2 million to 4 million US women every year (Massey, 1999).
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