Corporal punishment and psychological maltreatment among school girls in Bahrain

Abstract EN

Objectives : To identify the prevalence and factors associated with increased risk for corporal punishment and psychological maltreatment of school girls in Bahrain.

Study design : A total of 184 school girls attending two summer centres in Manama and Muharraq had answered the gestionnaire.

The students were in 6th-12th grades.

The questionnaire included inquiries about instances of corporal punishment by the school teachers over the preceeding year, demographic data that may associate with increased risk for abuse, reason(s) for the punishment, the instrument used, manners or style of hitting and the student’s reaction and perception about the appropriateness or otherwise of corporal punishment.

They were also asked about instances and types of verbal insults and their reaction to them, the use of corporal punishment at home, the person administering the punishment and the apparent presumed reason(s) for it.

Results : Corporal punishment was experienced by 23 % of the students at school and by 25 % at home.

Verbal insults at school were reported by 78 % of the girls.

The students’ reactions to these punishments and insults were anger, dislike of school, low self-esteem, depression, desire for revenge and indifference.

Factors associated with an increased risk for corporal punishment at school included; poor school performance, schools located in rural areas and junior classes.

Conclusion : Corporal punishment and psychological maltreatment of school girls are common.

Enacting and enforcing laws that prohibit corporal punishment and psychological maltreatment at schools in Bahrain are urgently needed.

In addition, there is a need to educate teachers about normal behavioural development of children, anger control skills, healthy approach to conflict resolution and alternatives to corporal punishment for controlling undesirable behaviour of children.