Document Type : Research Article
Authors
1
Department of Sociology, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran
2
Master's in Sociology, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran
3
PhD student in Sociology of Iranian Social Issues, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran
4
Master's in Social Research, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran
10.22059/jisr.2026.403664.1670
Abstract
Child labor is one of the major urban social issues in Mashhad, and citizens’ attitudes toward working children may influence how society responds to this phenomenon. The present study aimed to examine the pattern of citizens’ attitudes toward child labor in Mashhad and to investigate whether these attitudes differ according to demographic characteristics and socioeconomic status. This study is a descriptive–analytical and survey method. The statistical population consisted of all citizens aged 18 years and older in Mashhad. Using Multistage probability sampling, 384 respondents were selected as the study sample. Data were collected using a researcher‑made questionnaire designed to measure three dimensions of attitudes toward working children: sympathetic, hostile, and indifferent attitudes. The face and content validity of the questionnaire were confirmed by experts, and its reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha.The average of citizens' empathetic, hostile, and indifferent attitudes (based on a range of scores from 11 to 55 and an assumed mean of 33) are 35.80, 32.42, and 30.45, respectively; with empathetic attitudes being above average, hostile and indifferent attitudes below average,Gender showed no statistically significant differences in any dimension of attitudes (p > 0.05). Age had significant effects on hostile attitudes (F = 3.98, p = 0.019) and indifferent attitudes (F = 7.06, p = 0.001). Residential area was significantly associated with sympathetic (F = 13.00, p < 0.01) and indifferent attitudes (F = 4.40, p = 0.013), indicating that residents of upper‑class neighborhoods expressed more sympathetic attitudes, whereas residents of lower‑class areas showed more indifferent attitudes. Furthermore, socioeconomic status was significantly related to all three dimensions of attitudes These findings highlight the importance of socioeconomic and spatial differences in shaping public attitudes and suggest that social policies addressing child labor in Mashhad should consider these factors.
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