Peer-reviewed article
The Relationship Between Young Children’s Influence and violence against children in Selected Bugiri Primary Schools in Uganda
Jackline Bwire Achan, John Samson Maani, Grace Lubaale ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examined whether children's influence—measured through self-esteem, role model attachment, and decision-making capacity—is related to violence against children in primary schools in Bugiri district, Uganda. Researchers surveyed 236 children from two government-aided primary schools in an area known for high rates of violence against children. The study found a statistically significant correlation between children's influence and levels of violence experienced, suggesting that empowering children to participate in school decisions may help reduce violence.
Key points
- Children's influence, measured through self-esteem, role model attachment, and decision-making capacity, showed a statistically significant correlation with violence against children
- The study was conducted in Bugiri district, where high rates of violence against children had been previously reported
- 236 primary three children from two government-aided schools participated in the research
- The study recommends including children in the planning and implementation of school violence-reduction strategies
- Mixed-method sequential explanatory design was used with regression analysis and Pearson's correlation coefficient
Limitations
The study measures correlation, not causation, so it cannot definitively show whether children's influence prevents violence or whether experiencing less violence enables children to develop greater influence. The sample was limited to primary three students in two government-aided schools in one district, which may not represent all children or schools in Uganda.
Abstract
This study investigated the relationship between children's influence and violence against children in selected Bugiri schools based on the fact that Bugiri district had reported high rates of violence against children. The study was guided by the following three research objectives: To establish the level of children’s influence in the chosen schools, determining the level of violence against children at the chosen schools, and lastly to determine the relationship between the two factors (children’s influence and violence against children) at the chosen schools. The study used a sequential explanatory mixed method design and was carried out at two government-aided primary schools in the Bugiri district of Uganda. Two hundred thirty-six (236) young children in primary three comprised the sample, out of the 365 children in the accessible population. The data were analysed using regression analysis and Pearson's correlation coefficient index. The results indicated a statistically significant, correlation between children influence and violence against children in schools (self-esteem, role model attachment and decision-making capacity). The study recommends that children should be used to influence violence decisions and planning at school. Programs at school meant to lessen violence have to include children in choosing violence reduction strategies and implementing violence-reduction activities in schools