The effect of beliefs and self-efficacy on the levels of sexual abuse-related anxiety in parents of children with disabilities

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between self-efficacy, sexual abuse-related anxiety and belief levels of the parents of children receiving special education support. The study was descriptively conducted with the parents of 141 students who received special education in primary school in Kayseri in the 2021–2022 academic year. Parent information form, Parental Beliefs Form on Child Sexual Abuse (PBFCSA), Sexual Abuse Parental Anxiety Scale (SAPAS) and Parental Self-Efficacy Instrument for Children with Disabilities (PSICD) were used in the study. Independent samples t test, Pearson rank correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression analysis were used for data analysis. In the study, statistically significant and positive correlations were found between parental beliefs about sexual abuse and anxiety about sexual abuse (r = 0.318; 95% CI [0.188, 0.438]), between anxiety about sexual abuse and parental self-efficacy (r = 0.389; 95% CI [0.213, 0.531]) and between parental beliefs about sexual abuse and parental self-efficacy (r = 0.324; 95% CI [0.116, 0.514]). In the study, it was found that 24.4% of parental anxiety was explained by parental self-efficacy, beliefs about sexual abuse, parent status, working status and age. In the study, a weak but positive and significant relationship was found between parental beliefs about sexual abuse and anxiety about sexual abuse. It is recommended that studies should be conducted to determine appropriate coping methods for parents' concerns about sexual abuse and to monitor changes in their beliefs and self-efficacy. In addition, it is predicted that applied studies addressing self-efficacy and beliefs should be conducted to understand how levels of anxiety might be reduced.