Parents’ Understanding of Child Sexual Abuse: A Social Cognitive Theory Perspective

Abstract

Child sexual abuse (CSA) poses serious risks to children’s physical, psychological, and social development, with parents playing a crucial role in risk recognition and prevention within the family. This study aims to describe parents’ understanding of child sexual abuse from the perspective of Social Cognitive Theory. The study employed a quantitative approach with a descriptive method. The population consisted of 376 parents of ninth-grade students at SMP Negeri 1 Megamendung. Respondents were selected using purposive sampling based on several criteria, including parents with children under 18 years old, active internet users, and individuals with basic literacy skills to complete the questionnaire independently. Based on these criteria, 216 parents participated in the study. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire using a five-point Likert scale and were complemented by brief interviews to obtain contextual information. Secondary data were obtained from scientific journal articles and other relevant documents. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, specifically the Weighted Mean Score method, to categorize the level of parents’ understanding across the measured dimensions. The results indicate that parents’ level of understanding of child sexual abuse is in the very high category, particularly in the knowledge dimension. These findings suggest that parents have a strong understanding of the basic concepts and various forms of child sexual abuse, which may help them recognize potential risks and consider preventive measures in everyday life.