Physical child abuse, self-esteem and academic performance amongst children: a case study of Bright Junior primary school Kampala District

Abstract

This research focuses on physical child abuse, self-esteem and academic performance among primary children of 18 years of age and below. Purpose of the study examined physical child abuse and its relationship to self esteem and academic performance among children of the ages below 18 years. Objectives of the study were to find out how physical child abuse is related to self esteem. How physical child abuse is related to academic performance and how self esteem is related to academic performance. Sample size, according to Kerchief and Morgan 1970, sample size was 44 respondent students of Bright Junior School. Data collection tools were research questionnaires assessing psychical child abuse, self esteem and academic performance. The data was analyzed using the SPSS computer programmer and the results got were divided into biographical and correlations. This was in relation with the hypothesis 1, 2, 3. The biographic information was tabulated into frequency tables. The corrections were tabulated as seen in table no.2 chapter 4 showing the correction between physical child abuse, self-esteem and academic performance; as null hypothesis 1(H1) and from the results got this hypothesis was rejected. The null hypothesis 2 (H2) which states that there is a significant negative relationship between physical child abuse and academic performance was retained. The correction between self esteem and academic performance in relation to null hypothesis 3(H3) was retained as the results show. The key findings were the researcher rejected the null hypothesis, 1(H1). The researcher retained the null hypothesis, 2(H2) and the researcher retained the null hypothesis, 3(H3). The key recommendation was, the researcher recommended raising awareness of the unacceptability of the physical child abuse and promoting the notion that stopping physical child abuse is every ones responsibility.