Parental violence linked to lower enrollment rates

Children who experience violent discipline at home are about 50 percent less likely to remain enrolled in school, according to a new study released by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS).

The PIDS study, which tracked nearly 5,000 Filipino children over several years, found that those exposed to parental violence at age 10 were about half as likely to be enrolled in school by ages 14 to 15.

While overall school enrollment remains high, the small portion of children who are unenrolled are disproportionately from homes where violence occurs.

The research highlights a significant public health issue — nearly two in five or 39.5 percent Filipino children experience physical or emotional violence from a parent by age 10 — an early harm that significantly weakens their educational engagement later on.

The rate remains high, with 35 percent experiencing violence at age 11 and 34 percent at age 12, mirroring global patterns.

“While a child’s development is expected to flourish at home, for these children, home is where fear and harm begin,” said PIDS Project Technical Specialist Aaron Carlos Manuel, one of the study’s authors.

Manuel explained that these “early childhood experiences shape mental health outcomes,” which can affect emotional regulation and behavior in school.

Both boys and girls showed reduced odds of staying enrolled, though the link was statistically stronger for boys.