Abstract
M.A. (Social Work)
The important role that social workers, in relation to the
assessment of emotional abuse play, necessitated an investigation
of the essence of all forms of child abuse, namely emotional
abuse.
The aim of this study was to set certain guidelines for the
assessment of emotional child abuse which could be used by the
social workers in service of the "Sinodale Kommissie vir die
Diens van Barmhartigheid van Noord-Transvaal". During this
investigation a qualitative as well as a quantitative approach
was followed, thus, this study could be described as exploring/
descriptive.
A literature review, where the indicators of emotional abuse was
defined, was firstly undertaken. Secondly, a questionnaire was
drawn up and completed by twenty five selected social workers.
The aim of this questionnaire was to ascertain what the perception
of, the family care worker in relation to the assessment of
emotional abuse, was.
Furthermore, one focus group materialised and four interviews
with concerned parties were conducted. These parties included
a social consultant from a state department, a social worker in
private practise whom is concerned with the training of people
involved in assessment of child abuse and two Commissionaries of
Child Welfare. The purpose of these interviews was to determine
their perception of factors involved in emotional abuse as well
as their interpretation of the definition of emotional abuse in
the Act on Child Care. A short, structured interview schedule was
used to obtain certain general information that could be of value
when interpreting the data.
It was concluded that the perceptions of social workers and other
concerned parties corresponded with concepts gained from the
literature. Recommendations concerning the assessment of
emotional child abuse, was also disclosed. Guidelines for the
assessment of certain factors of emotional abuse were also
expressed.