Adolescent-to-Parent Violence and Family Environment: The Perceptions of Same Reality?

Izaskun Ibabe

doi:10.3390/ijerph16122215

Abstract

The use of several sources of information (parents and children) is scarce in family studies. Child-to-parent violence (CPV) is still considered the most hidden and stigmatized form of family violence. One objective of this study was to analyze the prevalence of child-to-parent violence and perceptions of family environment as a function of the informant (parent or child), child’s sex, and parents’ sex in a community population. The study also aimed to analyze the predictive power of family conflict and aggressive family discipline in child-to-parent violence depending on the informant. A sample of 586 adolescents (49% boys, aged between 12 and 18) and their parents (40%) participated in the study. The Family Environment Scale and the Conflict Tactics Scales were administered. Results showed good consistency between adolescent reports and parent reports for physical CPV, but adolescents perceived worse family environments than their parents. Multiple regression models revealed that aggressive family discipline and family are important risk factors for CPV. Early intervention to prevent CPV is recommended, focused on promoting family relationships and avoiding harsh discipline practices. It is important that parents are able to ask for help when they need it.

Highlights

Violence research over the last two decades has largely focused on child abuse and intimate partner violence
The present study aims to analyze whether the prevalence of child-to-parent violence and perception of family environment changes as a function of the informant, child’s sex, and parents’ sex in a community population
The prevalence rate of child-to-parent violence found in adolescent reports was higher than in parent reports for psychological violence against the father (81% versus 76, χ2 (1, N = 168) = 4.85, p = 0.03, Cramer’s V = 0.17), while in the other types of child-to-parent violence the differences were not significant

Summary

Introduction

Violence research over the last two decades has largely focused on child abuse and intimate partner violence. CPV is defined as violence, including physical and psychological violence, perpetrated by children or adolescents and directed toward their parents or caregivers. In this definition, the intention to control parents, which appears in the definitions of different experts (e.g., [1]), has been eliminated. Pereira et al [2] have developed a practical definition which includes repeated violent behaviors of children towards their parents or caregivers when the child has a relationship of dependency with respect to the parent. Most studies have focused exclusively on community samples and children reports [3,4]. Findings based on adolescent reports indicate prevalence rates ranging from 7.2% to 22% for physical aggression, and from 65.8%

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Conclusion