Effects of nursing students’ ability to empathize, recognize children’s rights, and perceive child abuse on their intention to report child abuse

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the factors influencing nursing students’ intentions to report child abuse. Methods: The participants of this study were 151 nursing students who were currently enrolled in nursing departments in Korea and who were at least 18 years of age or older. This study used a descriptive cross-sectional design, and the data were collected from February 16, to March 13, 2023, using an online self-administered survey. The questionnaire included general characteristics, empathy ability, child rights recognition, child abuse perception, and intention to report child abuse. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, an independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Scheffé test, and multiple regression analysis using SPSS Statistics 29.0. Results: The intention to report child abuse showed statistically significant positive correlations with empathy ability (r=.23, p<.001), child rights recognition (r=.34, p<.001), and child abuse perception (r=.63, p<.001). In the multiple regression analysis, the factors significantly related to nursing students’ intention to report child abuse were as follows: awareness of mandatory reporting (yes) (β=.16, p=.021) and child abuse perception (β=.56, p<.001). The explanatory power of these factors was 45.0% (F=20.03, p<.001). Conclusion: Considering the findings of this study, it is necessary to develop and implement educational programs for improving the perception of child abuse and thus enhancing nursing students’ intention to report child abuse.