SYDNEY, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Most childhood physical abuse in Australia occurs within families and before children turn 10, according to an Australian study.
The study analyzed Australian Child Maltreatment Study data from 8,503 Australians aged 16 and older, focusing on 2,623 individuals who reported experiencing physical abuse during childhood, according to a statement released Wednesday by Australia's Curtin University.
One in four Australians aged 16 to 24 reported experiencing physical abuse by a family member. Family members were responsible for 85 percent of reported perpetration, while 4 percent occurred in institutional settings and 5 percent involved both family and institutional settings, the study found.
Among children abused before age 10, both parents were identified as perpetrators in one in three cases. Abuse involving both parents was also associated with the earliest onset and longest duration, according to the findings published in the journal Child Maltreatment.
Childhood physical abuse remains a major public health concern globally and is associated with substantial adverse mental, physical and social outcomes across the lifespan, said the researchers, noting that prevention efforts must extend beyond institutions and place greater emphasis on the home. ■