Depression and Its Association with Physical Abuse and Parental Neglect Among Primary School Pupils
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Objective: To assess levels of depression, physical abuse, and parental neglect among primary school pupils in Basrah, and to examine their interrelationships and associations with demographic characteristics.
Methods and Materials: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in five government primary schools across Basrah (November 15, 2023–November 25, 2024). Using purposive sampling, 300 pupils in grades 5–6 (boys and girls) completed a researcher-adopted Physical Abuse and Parental Neglect scale and the Birleson Children’s Depression Scale. Demographics included age, sex, family structure, parental education/occupation, and economic status. Data were analyzed in SPSS 26 using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and Pearson correlations.
Findings: Most participants were male (61.7%); ages were predominantly 11–12 years. Levels of physical abuse and parental neglect were low in 13.3%, moderate in 66.3%, and high in 20.3% of pupils. Depression levels were low in 8.7%, moderate in 71.0%, and high in 20.3%. Depression showed a positive correlation with physical abuse and parental neglect (reported Pearson r=0.931, p<0.001). No significant associations were found between physical abuse/neglect and demographics (age, sex, family type, parental education/occupation, economic status).
Conclusion: Among primary school pupils, moderate levels of depression, physical abuse, and parental neglect were common, and depression increased with higher levels of abuse/neglect. School- and family-based prevention and early identification programs are warranted. Future studies should consider probability sampling, validated cutoffs, and multivariable models to clarify causal pathways.
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