An examination of the awareness levels of social studiesteachers regarding child neglect and abuse

This study aims to determine the awareness levels of teachers who teach social studies regarding child neglect and abuse. The research was conducted using a quantitative research method and a correlational survey model. The study population consisted of teachers who taught social studies in schools affiliated with the Ministry of National Education in Van province during the 2024–2025 academic year. The sample was selected using a simple random sampling method, and data were collected from 352 participants. The data were obtained using the "Child Neglect Awareness Scale" and the "Child Abuse Awareness Scale" developed by Celiloğlu (2023). The reliability coefficients of the scales were recalculated in this study, and the instruments were found to be reliable. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, and parametric tests were employed based on the analysis results. For variables with two categories (e.g., gender, marital status, education level, teaching level, parental status, family structure, in-service and pre-service training on child neglect and abuse, knowledge about child protection laws, experience with neglect or abuse cases, and reporting responsibility), independent samples t-tests were used. For variables with three or more categories (e.g., age, years of experience, perceived socio-economic status), one-way ANOVA (F-test) was applied. The findings revealed that the awareness levels of social studies teachers regarding child neglect and abuse were at a "moderate" level. Additionally, a significant and positive relationship was found between teachers' awareness of child neglect and their awareness of child abuse.