An examination of the characteristics of mothers neglecting their children

Background. This study is aimed to recognize families who have neglected their children in the early period, to raise awareness among experts especially pediatricians-working in this field about the reasons contributing to the neglect. Methods. For this purpose, data were collected by...

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Main Authors: Ferda Karadağ, Dilşad Foto Özdemir, Gülin Evinç, Esra Çalık Var, Cengiz Özbesler
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Hacettepe University Institute of Child Health 2021-04-01
Series:The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://turkjpediatr.org/article/view/293
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author Ferda Karadağ
Dilşad Foto Özdemir
Gülin Evinç
Esra Çalık Var
Cengiz Özbesler
author_facet Ferda Karadağ
Dilşad Foto Özdemir
Gülin Evinç
Esra Çalık Var
Cengiz Özbesler
author_sort Ferda Karadağ
collection DOAJ
description Background. This study is aimed to recognize families who have neglected their children in the early period, to raise awareness among experts especially pediatricians-working in this field about the reasons contributing to the neglect. Methods. For this purpose, data were collected by quantitative and qualitative methods. The mothers of 32 neglected children and 30 children who were not neglected were included in to the study. Sociodemographic Information Form, Neglect Assessment Tool, Close Relationships Inventory, Perceived Social Support Scale, Marital Adjustment Scale, Childhood Trauma Survey Scale, Semi Structured Interview Form, SCID I and SCID II were used as data collection tools. T-test, ANOVA, Chi-square test, Kruskal Wallis, Pearson Correlation test were used for quantitative analysis and descriptive analysis method was used in the analysis of qualitative data. Results. In the quantitative findings obtained; mothers of neglected children and control group mothers differed in terms of their age, income perceptions, multidimensional perceived social support, marital adjustment, physical and emotional abuse subscales on the scale of childhood abuse, adult attachment patterns, however; it was found that there was no difference in terms of mental illness and personality disorder, and scores on sexual abuse subscale of child abuse. Qualitative results demonstrated that most of the mothers did not consider themselves adequate for parenting, were not satisfied with their parenting role, had insufficient emotional investment in their children and could not balance their roles. Conclusions. It was concluded that the mothers of neglected children had problems in the areas of social support, marital adjustment, adult attachment patterns and they were also exposed to physical and emotional abuse during their own childhood and these problems negatively affected the quality of their childcare. For this reason, it is important to provide support to neglectful families and family interventions should be established.
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spelling doaj-art-f0cfb2a0cca44d1db8b13b804ec00f382025-08-20T03:00:51ZengHacettepe University Institute of Child HealthThe Turkish Journal of Pediatrics0041-43012791-64212021-04-0163210.24953/turkjped.2021.02.007An examination of the characteristics of mothers neglecting their childrenFerda Karadağ0Dilşad Foto Özdemir1Gülin Evinç2Esra Çalık Var3Cengiz Özbesler4Department of Social Work, Faculty of Health Sciences, Bartın University, Bartın.Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara.Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara.Department of Social Work, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Ankara, Turkey.Department of Social Work, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Ankara, Turkey. Background. This study is aimed to recognize families who have neglected their children in the early period, to raise awareness among experts especially pediatricians-working in this field about the reasons contributing to the neglect. Methods. For this purpose, data were collected by quantitative and qualitative methods. The mothers of 32 neglected children and 30 children who were not neglected were included in to the study. Sociodemographic Information Form, Neglect Assessment Tool, Close Relationships Inventory, Perceived Social Support Scale, Marital Adjustment Scale, Childhood Trauma Survey Scale, Semi Structured Interview Form, SCID I and SCID II were used as data collection tools. T-test, ANOVA, Chi-square test, Kruskal Wallis, Pearson Correlation test were used for quantitative analysis and descriptive analysis method was used in the analysis of qualitative data. Results. In the quantitative findings obtained; mothers of neglected children and control group mothers differed in terms of their age, income perceptions, multidimensional perceived social support, marital adjustment, physical and emotional abuse subscales on the scale of childhood abuse, adult attachment patterns, however; it was found that there was no difference in terms of mental illness and personality disorder, and scores on sexual abuse subscale of child abuse. Qualitative results demonstrated that most of the mothers did not consider themselves adequate for parenting, were not satisfied with their parenting role, had insufficient emotional investment in their children and could not balance their roles. Conclusions. It was concluded that the mothers of neglected children had problems in the areas of social support, marital adjustment, adult attachment patterns and they were also exposed to physical and emotional abuse during their own childhood and these problems negatively affected the quality of their childcare. For this reason, it is important to provide support to neglectful families and family interventions should be established. https://turkjpediatr.org/article/view/293child neglectmaternal characteristicsrisk factors for child neglect
spellingShingle Ferda Karadağ
Dilşad Foto Özdemir
Gülin Evinç
Esra Çalık Var
Cengiz Özbesler
An examination of the characteristics of mothers neglecting their children
The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics
child neglect
maternal characteristics
risk factors for child neglect
title An examination of the characteristics of mothers neglecting their children
title_full An examination of the characteristics of mothers neglecting their children
title_fullStr An examination of the characteristics of mothers neglecting their children
title_full_unstemmed An examination of the characteristics of mothers neglecting their children
title_short An examination of the characteristics of mothers neglecting their children
title_sort examination of the characteristics of mothers neglecting their children
topic child neglect
maternal characteristics
risk factors for child neglect
url https://turkjpediatr.org/article/view/293
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