The Use of Violence Towards Children as a Method of Discipline by Parents From Their Prospective

A Field Study Among a Sample of Parents in Erbil City

Abstract

This research aims to identify the forms of violence used by parents as a method of child-rearing, the reasons behind their use, and their relation to variables such as education, income, gender, age, profession, and number of children. It also explores parents’ attitudes toward using violence in parenting. Using a descriptive approach and a social survey (via Google Forms), data were collected from a sample of 370 parents living in Erbil. The findings revealed that psychological violence—including deprivation, threats, and quarreling—is more common than physical violence. However, hitting the head and pulling hair were the most frequent forms of physical violence reported. Most parents expressed that violence is an ineffective educational method, citing a lack of knowledge about alternative disciplinary approaches as the main reason for its use. The study also found a significant relationship between parents’ educational level and their use of violence, with those of lower educational levels using it more frequently. Additionally, the father’s and mother’s professions influenced the use of violence, with it being more prevalent among housewives. Finally, the number of children was a significant factor, as parents with four or more children were more likely to use violent disciplinary methods.