The relationship of parents' problem internet use level and the potential of child abuse

Objective: This study was carried out to determine the relationship between the problematic internet use level of parents and the potential for child abuse and to examine the factors predicting this relationship examine the factors that predict the relationship. Material and Methods: The study, descriptively and analytically, was carried out with 320 mothers and fathers with children aged 1-6 years who were hospitalized in the Aydın pediatrics service and came to the pediatric outpatient clinics of between March 2, 2020 and September 30, 2021. The data were collected with the Socio-demographic Information form, Internet Addiction Scale and Milner Child Abuse Potential (CAP) Inventory Abuse Scale prepared by the researcher in line with the literature. Results: While the scores obtained from the child abuse potential scale in the study did not differ according to age, gender, gender of the child, number of children, age of the child smoking status, alcohol use (p>0,05), education level, employment status, job type, income-expenditure status, internet use duration of use, and perceived social support level differ significantly (p<0,05). According to the results of the analysis regarding the differences between the problematic internet use levels of the parents, no significant difference was observed according to the age, gender of the child, employment status, job type, income-expenditure status and the age of the child (p>0,05); It was determined that there were significant differences according to the gender of the parents, smoking status, alcohol use, education level, duration of internet use and perceived social support level (p<0,05). In the study, it was determined that income status (χ2=44.78; p<0.05) and problematic internet use variables were effective on abuse potential (χ2=42.48; p<0.05). A statistically significant relationship was found between Internet Addiction Scale scores and CAP Abuse Scale scores. Conclusion: It was determined that education level, occupation, income status, duration of internet use and perceived social support level were effective factors on the potential for abuse, and cigarette and alcohol use, education level, duration of internet use and perceived social support level were effective factors in terms of problematic internet use. Income status and problematic internet use were found to be effective on the potential for abuse. Problematic internet use was associated with the potential for child abuse.