Propensity to perpetrate abusive behaviors: Internet survey of the role of gender, childhood maltreatment, and perception of maltreatment in Nigeria

a r t i c l e i n f o Keywords: Propensity to perpetrate maltreatment Childhood maltreatment Perception of maltreatment Maltreatment Child abuse This article reports on propensity to perpetrate abusive behaviors and examines the role of gender, childhood maltreatment, and perception of abusive behaviors on the propensity. Findings suggest that propensity to perpetrate abusive behaviors cuts across all types of maltreatment (i.e., physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, child neglect, and child labor). Although abusive behavior with high propensity for perpetration includes corporal punishment, propensity to perpetrate abusive behaviors differed by gender. Men were more likely than women to indicate propensity to perpetrate abusive behaviors. Those who perceived behaviors as not abusive, as well as those who reported childhood experience of abusive behaviors, were more likely to intend to perpetrate abusive behaviors. Although childhood experience of sexual abuse was related to perpetration of sexual abuse, history of perpetrating sexual abuse comprised the largest effect size of the propensities to perpetrate abusive behaviors. Implications of findings for policy, practice, and services are discussed. Research on risk factors for child maltreatment has consistently suggested that child, parental, environmental, and sociodemographic factors influence perpetration of child maltreatment Among the most enduring variables for predicting maltreatment, perception and childhood maltreatment are particularly important because how individuals perceive childhood experience of maltreatment may influence their propensity to perpetrate maltreatment. Yet, empirical knowledge connecting propensity to perception and childhood maltreatment is sparse. The sparseness is particularly pronounced in developing regions, especially Nigeria. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine propensity to perpetrate abusive behaviors in Nigeria and determine the role of gender, childhood maltreatment, and perception on the propensity. 2. Culture and maltreatment in Nigeria Defining maltreatment in Nigeria is particularly challenging given the complex socio-cultural and religious conditions that prevent precise definition of abusive behaviors. Historically, attempts to define mal-treatment include efforts to integrate the guidelines of Convention of the Rights of the Child to curb harmful cultural practices against vulnerable children. Nevertheless, abusive behaviors against children are common in Nigeria. Their prevalence is described in recent reports by African Child Policy Forum (ACPF, 2011) that identified the various forms of abusive behaviors against children including beating (90%), hitting (84%), kicking (55%), denial of food (51%), being shouted at or glared at (85%), being insulted (84%), being embarrassed in front of others (73%), and witnessing severe beating/hitting (62%). The prevalence identified by …