Parental psychological aggression against children: Prevalence and predictors evidenced from Tajikistan Demographic and Health Surveys (TJDHS) 2023

Psychological aggression experienced during childhood causes irreversible damage to the psychological well-being of an individual. Considering the importance, the Tajikistan Demographic and Health Survey (TJDHS) has recently collected information on parental psychological aggression. However, no study has presented the situation of this issue in detail. Therefore, we analyzed TJDHS 2023 data and assessed the prevalence and predictors of parental psychological aggression. We analyzed data from 19,103 parents and caregivers who responded to questions on psychological aggression. Bivariate analysis and binomial logistic regression were conducted. Fifty-two percent of parents and caregivers showed psychological aggression against children. Prevalence in each of the four regions, namely, Khatlon (58.5%), DRS (56.7%), GBAO (50.8%), and Dushanbe (50.1%), exceeded 50%. Higher household size (aOR 1.04; 95% CI 1.03–1.05), poorest wealth quintile, indoor secondhand smoke (SHS) (aOR 1.25; 95% CI 1.15–1.37), mobile phones (aOR 1.97; 95% CI 1.66–2.35), and internet access (aOR 1.22; 95% CI 1.14–1.31) were positively associated with parental psychological aggression. Particularly, parents with mobile phones were two times more likely to show psychological aggression. Conversely, those who had a computer and radio were less likely to show parental aggression than those who didn’t have these devices. Conclusively, psychological aggression is highly prevalent in Tajikistan. Every second parent shows psychological aggression toward children. Poverty, indoor SHS, mobile phones, and internet use intensify parental psychological aggression. Interventions educating parents about the detrimental impact of aggression on the psychological well-being of children and introducing positive parenting methods were discussed and recommended.