Child-to-Parent Violence: Profile of Abusive Adolescents and Their Families

• NCJ Number: 231742
• Journal: Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 38 Issue: 4 Dated: July/August 2010 Pages: 616-624
• Author(s): Izaskun Ibabe; Joana Jaureguizar
• Date Published: July 2010
• Length: 9 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: Netherlands

Annotation

This study focused on parent abuse (PA), also known as child-to-parent violence.

Abstract

The main aim was to examine the psychological and family characteristics of adolescents who physically and/or verbally abuse their parents, and to study gender differences of perpetrators and victims of aggression. The authors analyzed the judicial proceedings of 103 adolescents in the court of Bilbao (Spain). These adolescents were divided into three groups: those with charges of PA, those with charges of PA and other kinds of charges (PA+), and those with only other types of charges (NotPA). Results showed a specific profile of adolescents who abused their parents (PA) (lower self-esteem and empathy, and more disciplinary problems at school), as well as differential characteristics of these families (economic situation and the type of household). Finally, the relation between this phenomenon and gender violence was discussed in detail. (Published Abstracts)