The differences in father involvement in parenting and the anxiety level of 7-8 year-old children experiencing sexual abuse in South Tangerang City, Indonesia

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the relationship between father’s involvement in parenting and children anxiety level. The variables of this research were the father’s involvement in parenting (X) and the anxiety level of children (Y) using a descriptive quantitative approach. The sampling technique used was purposive sampling which consisted of children within the age range of 7-8 years old who experienced sexual abuse, having biological parents, and living in South Tangerang City. A total of 14 children were taken as the samples based on the sampling technique. Data collection was carried out through the scale of father’s involvement in parenting and the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale. Simple linear regression was used to test the relationship between the father’s involvement in parenting and children anxiety level. The results showed that the significance score 0.000 < 0.05, it means that father’s involvement influenced the anxiety level of children experiencing sexual abuse.