Author: Khadija Rasheed
Supervisor: Rukhsana Kausar, Ph.D
Degree: MSc
Year: 2012-2014
University: Institute of Applied Psychology, Punjab University, Lahore, Pakistan
Abstract
The current study examined the general concerns, attitudes and
perceptions of Pakistani mothers about child vulnerability for sexual abuse
of both daughters and sons and also investigated the effect of education
and work status of these mothers on their concerns and attitudes about the
safety of their children. It was hypothesized that Pakistani educated and
uneducated, working and non-working women are likely to differ in their
concerns, attitudes and perceptions about child vulnerability for sexual
abuse of sons and daughters. The research was carried out in two parts i.e.
study 1 and study 2 (main study). Study 1 was carried out to construct two
separate scales for assessing maternal concerns and attitudes about safety
and protection of daughters and sons. These scales were later used in the
study 2 with 166 mothers comprising of 4 groups i.e. educated-working
mothers = 41, uneducated working mothers = 42, educated non-working
mothers = 41 and uneducated non- working mothers = 42. The age range
of these mothers was above than 30 years. Demographic information of
the sample was taken through a demographic sheet. A self-Constructed
Scale i.e. Maternal Concerns And Attitudes Scale for Safety Of Daughters
(MCA-SD) was used to assess the concerns, attitudes and perceptions of
mothers about the safety of daughters. In the same way, a self-constructed
scale i.e. Maternal Concerns And Attitudes Scale for Safety Of Sons
(MCA-SS) was used to assess the concerns, attitudes and perceptions of
mothers about the safety of sons. Data were analyzed using descriptive
statistics, two-way analysis of variance and independent samples t-test.
Results revealed that educated mothers had more sense of responsibility,
ensured more safety of daughters and provide more information on
self-protection to their daughters as compared to non-educated mothers.
Similarly, educated mothers ensured more safety of their sons, provide
more education on self-protection had more self-assurance and had more
concerns regarding the safety and protection of their sons as compared to
non-educated mothers. In the same way, non-working mothers had more
sense of responsibility and provided more education on self-protection to
daughters as compared to working mothers. Non-working mothers ensured
more safety of their sons and provided more education on self-
protection as compared to working mothers. It was also concluded from
the results that mothers living in nuclear family system trusted more on
relatives and staff for the protection of daughters and they ensured more
safety of their daughters as compared to mothers living in joint family
system. Similarly, mothers living in nuclear family system trusted more on
relatives and staff for the protection of their sons provide more education
on self-protection and ensured more safety of their sons as compared to mothers living in joint family system.
Keywords: Attitude, Perception, Vulnerability, Sexual Abuse.
Visit University to get the full thesis.
Corresponding Address: Department of Applied Psychology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. Email: chairperson@appsy.pu.edu.pk, Phone: 92-42-9231245
