Perception, use, and abolition of Corporal Punishment among High School Teachers in a district in Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract:Students in many regions of the world experience corporal punishment in multiple settings, although what is currently known about corporal punishment is derived from parental corporal punishment. Using a convenience sample of 271 teachers in 14 public and private secondary schools in a district in southwestern Nigeria, this article describes the associations between perception, use, and support for abolition of corporal punishment. Results suggest that having children, more corporal punishment of own children, and higher frequency of corporal punishment by colleagues were associated with frequent use of corporal punishment. Frequency of corporal punishment by colleagues accounted for the strongest variance in frequent use of corporal punishment. Lower corporal punishment of own children was associated with higher endorsement of abolition of corporal punishment from schools, whereas being male was associated with higher endorsement of abolition of corporal punishment from society. Teachers endorsed abolition of corporal punishment not only from schools but also from society. These findings highlight the “bandwagon” effect and teacher characteristics as potential risk factors for sustained perpetration and transmission of corporal punishment and draw attention to the need for intervention on alternative approaches to corporal punishment that could facilitate the abolition of corporal punishment from home and schools

Work ethic and life satisfaction among social workers in Massachusetts : the moderating effect of gender

Abstract: Despite the belief that agreement with ideals of work ethic has positive effects on life satisfaction, empirical linkage of the association is sparse. Using a disproportionate stratified sample of 194 social workers in Massachusetts, results suggest that being female, being married, being employed full time, and being satisfied with one’s job were associated with life satisfaction. Gender moderated the effects of work ethic on life satisfaction: For women, high levels of work ethic were associated with high levels of life satisfaction; for men, there was a much smaller correlation. Implications for practice, human service organizations, and research were discussed

Exposure to violence and beliefs about violence against women among adolescents in Nigeria and South Africa

Abstract: Although adolescents’ exposure to violence and oppressive gender attitudes is prevalent, comparative knowledge across countries is sparse. This study examined exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV), family violence, and beliefs about violence against women (VAW) in a convenience sample of 2,462 adolescents from 44 schools in Nigeria and South Africa. Findings suggested that exposure to IPV, family violence, and beliefs about VAW differed by gender and country. Specifically, adolescents from Nigeria were more likely to be exposed to IPV and family violence and were more likely to endorse VAW than adolescents from South Africa. Male adolescents were more likely to endorse VAW than were female adolescents. Similarly, higher age, being male, being from Nigeria, being in a relationship, and greater exposure to family violence were associated with higher endorsement of VAW. Findings suggest that effective prevention programs are needed in both countries to mitigate exposure to IPV and family violence. Concerted efforts are also required to work with exposed adolescents to inhibit pro-VAW beliefs and stop the intergenerational transmission of violence. Additional implications of findings for policy, practice, and research are discussed

Life Satisfaction and Perceived Meaningfulness of Learning Experience among First-Year Traditional Graduate Social Work Students

Knowledge about life satisfaction and learning experience among first-year graduate students is sparse, despite its relevance to instructional decisions, academic support, and success of students. Adequate knowledge is crucial, as it may help graduate students manage personal and professional life changes associated with graduate education. Using a convenience sample of 118 first-year traditional social work graduate students in a northeastern U.S. university the study examined associations of life satisfaction and peer support with perception of meaningfulness of learning experience, as well as associations of gender, marital status, family support and perceived stress with life satisfaction. Results suggest that receiving higher peer support was associated with perceived meaningfulness of learning experience, whereas being female, being married, having lower perceived stress, and receiving higher family support were associated with life satisfaction. Reciprocal predictive relationship between life satisfaction and perceived meaningfulness of learning experience was found. In general, findings suggest that stress and support are important variables to consider in understanding life satisfaction and learning experience of first-year traditional social work graduate students and highlight the importance of peer and family support to navigating challenges of graduate education. Most importantly, findings have implications for social work education, highlighting how instructor’s utilization of instructional approaches that facilitate peer support may help ease transition into graduate education or help prevent drop out during the first year graduate students are most vulnerable to dropping out. Altogether, findings highlight why exploring perceived meaningfulness of learning experience and life satisfaction is crucial for identifying supportive needs of graduate students. Keywords: Life satisfaction; learning experience; perceived stress; family support; peer support

Rape myth acceptance : gender and cross-national comparisons across the United States, South Africa, Ghana, and Nigeria

Many studies indicate that rape-supportive beliefs persist and influence sexually aggressive behaviors and hostility toward women. Despite the plethora of studies, cross-cultural knowledge remains sparse. The present study examined rape myth acceptance across gender and countries (i.e., United States, South Africa, Ghana, and Nigeria). An online questionnaire was administered to a convenience sample of 699 respondents in the four countries. Results suggested that respondents in Nigeria were the most likely and respondents in United States were the least likely to endorse rape myths. Respondents in South Africa were less likely than respondents in Ghana to endorse the myth that the female victim of rape “asked for it” and that the male perpetrator “didn’t mean to” rape the female victim. Although men were more likely than women to endorse rape myths, female respondents in Nigeria endorsed the myths “she asked for it” and “he didn’t mean to” more than did male respondents in Nigeria. In general, exposure to various patriarchal structures and ideologies; differences in preventive, protective, and punitive policy responses to gender-based violence; repressive cultural and religious practices; reinforcement of demeaning stereotypes against women; and psychological assimilation of oppressive policy, values and beliefs may be responsible for cross-national differences. Cross-country differences in rape myths suggest the need for formal and informal intervention in vulnerable countries. International transfer of effective policies and programs for combating gender-based violence in protective countries might lead to considerable changes in vulnerable countries and help to shift the focus from patriarchal to egalitarian views of women.http://link.springer.com/journal/12119hj2022Social Work and Criminolog

Contested cases of physical abuse: Evidentiary characteristics of modified and overturned outcomes

In 1996 the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) was amended to mandate that states establish an official process to allow persons identified by child protective services agencies as perpetrators of child maltreatment to contest the findings. Little is known about the outcomes of these contested cases. In this study content analysis was used to examine evidentiary characteristics (failure to meet basic evidentiary standards, insufficient credible evidence, lack of credibility/credible refutation, and lack of harm/substantial risk of harm) and four injury characteristics (nature, location, severity/size, and source) of adverse outcomes in 104 contested cases of physical abuse presided over by Administrative Law Judges. Descriptive analysis suggested that injuries inflicted on children were predominantly minor bruises, scratches, or marks; the injuries resulted mainly from physical force; and the most frequently inflicted areas were lower parts of the body. Using logistic regression analysis to predict modified versus overturned outcomes, results showed that substantiated cases of physical abuse lacking proof of harm/substantial risk of harm were more likely to be modified than overturned. Practice implications related to determination of harm from evidentiary perspectives are discussed.Physical abuse Substantiation Contested cases Injury characteristics Physical harm Risk of harm

Confirmatory factor analysis and gender invariance of the revised IRMA-scale in Nigeria

Abstract : Research scales developed in one society are often validated in another society to determine the factor structure and measurement equivalence of the scales. Using a convenience sample of 378 respondents from two cross-sectional studies, the present analyses examined confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and gender invariance in the Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance Scale (IRMA) in Nigeria. Specifically, the analyses examined whether the scale holds similar factor structure, whether the latent means can be compared, and whether respondents interpreted items similarly or ascribed the same meaning to them across gender. Based on the analyses, CFA results validated the hypothesized multidimensional four-factor structure of IRMA, namely “She asked for it,” “He didn’t mean to,” “It wasn’t really rape,” and “She lied.” Similarly, the IRMA measurement was invariant (partial scalar invariance) across gender, suggesting that men and women interpreted IRMA’s items and constructs similarly. Results of an independent-samples t test suggested that women were more likely than men to reject the myth that female victim of rape “lied.” In general, preliminary findings indicated that IRMA is suitable for research on rape myths in Nigeria. Knowledge generated from its use may enhance understanding of rape myths, rape-supportive behaviors, and rape prevention and victim intervention programs. Keywords: Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance Scale, rape myth, rape, sexual violence, gender invariance, confirmatory factor analysis

The role of emotional intelligence and parenting styles on self-esteem in a sample of respondents in Nigeria

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