Investigation of the relationship between emotional abuse potentials of mothers with 3-6 years old children with separation anxiety of their children

The purpose of this study was to reveal the correlation between the emotional abuse potentials and their children's separation anxiety of mothers with children aged 3 to 6 years. In line with this main purpose examined whether the emotional abuse potentials of the mothers and separation anxiety their children vary according to children's gender, their age, mothers age, education level and occupation. The research was carried out using the relational screening model, one of the quantitative research methods. The sample of the study consisted of 410 children and their mothers between the ages of 3 and 6 who continued their preschool education in the institutions affiliated with the Ministry of National Education in Samsun provincial center and districts in the 2021-2022 academic year. Data were collected by a valid and reliable "Personal Information Form" as well as the Scale for "Emotional Abuse Potential of Parents with Children Aged 3 to 6", "Separation Anxiety Rating Scale Parent Form". Statistical analyses of the obtained research data were carried out using the t-test, Anova, Pearson Correlation, Simple Linear Regression and Multiple Regression tests. It was observed that the emotional abuse potential of the mothers who participated in the study did not show a significant difference according to the mothers' profession, child's gender and age variables. Family income status differs in the causal and preventive sub-dimensions of the emotional abuse potential scale, and the variables of age and educational status of the mother differ in the preventive sub-dimension. Separation anxiety of children between the ages of 3-6 who attend pre-school education did not differ statistically significantly according to the variables of the child's gender, age, mother's age, education level and occupation. A positive and significant relationship was found between the emotional abuse potential of mothers and their children's separation anxiety. In addition, it was concluded that the behaviors of their mothers that cause emotional abuse positively predicted their children's anxiety about being alone and abandoned. Keywords: Child abuse, emotional abuse, separation anxiety, preschool education