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Child-to-parent violence (CPV), also recognized asabuse of parents by their children, constitutes a manifestation ofdomestic violence characterized by the infliction of maltreatment upon parents. CPV can manifest in diverse forms, encompassing physical, verbal, psychological, emotional, and financial dimensions.[1]: 3–6 The repercussions of enduring abuse from one's offspring can be substantial, exerting influence on the physical and mentalwell-being of parents, both in the immediate and prolonged periods.
Many people consider parental abuse to be the result of certain parenting practices,neglect, or thechild suffering abuse themselves, but other adolescent abusers have had "normal" upbringings and have not suffered from such situations. Children may be subjected toviolence on TV, in movies and in music, and that violence may come to be considered "normal".[2] The breakdown of the family unit, poor or nonexistent relationships with an absent parent, as well as debt, unemployment, and parentaldrug/alcohol abuse may all be contributing factors to abuse. Some other reasons for CPV according to several experts include:[1][3]
Parental abuse is a relatively new term. In 1979, Harbin and Madden[4] released a study using the term "parent battery" butjuvenile delinquency, which is a major factor, has been studied since the late 19th century.[5] Even though some studies have been done in the United States,Australia, Canada, and other countries, the lack of reporting of adolescent abuse towards parents makes it difficult to accurately determine the extent of it. Many studies have to rely on self-reporting by adolescents.[6][7] In 2004, Robinson,[5] of Brigham Young University, published:Parent Abuse on the Rise: A Historical Review in the American Association of Behavioral Social Science Online Journal, reporting the results of the 1988 study performed by Evans and Warren-Sohlberg.[8] The results reported that 57% of parental abuse was physical; using a weapon was at 17%; throwing items was at 5% and verbal abuse was at 22%. With 82% of the abuse being against mothers (five times greater than against fathers), and 11% of the abusers were under the age of 10 years. The highest rate of abuse happens within families with a single mother. Mothers are usually the primary caregivers; they spend more time with their children than fathers and have closer emotional connections to them. It can also be due to the size and strength of the abuser. Parental abuse can occur in any family and it is not necessarily associated withethnic background,socio-economic class, orsexual orientation.
Numerous studies concluded that gender does not play a role in the total number of perpetrators; however, males are more likely to inflict physical abuse and females are more likely to inflict emotional abuse.[1][7][9] Studies from the United States estimate that violence among adolescents peaks at 15–17 years old.[8][10][11] However, a Canadian study done by Barbara Cottrell in 2001 suggests the ages are 12–14 years old.[1]
Parental abuse does not happen just inside the home but can in public places, further adding to the humiliation of the parents. Abuse is not only a domestic affair but can becriminal as well. Most teenagers experience a transition in which they try to go from beingdependent to independent, but there are some dynamics of parental control that may alter it. There will always be times of resistance toward parental authority. According to the Canadian National Clearinghouse on Family Violence, the abuse generally begins with verbal abuse, but even then, some females can be very physically abusive towards a child who is smaller and more vulnerable than they are, and to cover their abuse, they often lie to the other parent about actual events that led to "severe punishment." The child, adolescent or parent may show no remorse or guilt and feel justified in the behavior, but many times when the child is the one who is being abused, they are very remorseful for being forced to defend themselves, especially when they are not the aggressor.[5] Parents can examine the behavior of their children to determine whether or not it is abusive. Some teenagers can become aggressive as a result of parental abuse, dysfunction, or psychological problems, while some children may have trouble dealing with their emotions. However, children who are abused are not always afforded protection from their abusive parents.[1]
Non-violent resistance (NVR) is an approach designed to overcome a child’s aggressive, controlling, andself-destructive behaviors.[12][13] In NVR, parents replace talking with action, not engaging with aggressive or harmful behaviors.[14] With the support oftherapists and other counselors, it is possible to identify mental health and other behavioral concerns throughout this process. It has four areas where parents are supported by therapists or other counselors:[14]
While intervention is an option, it may not always work. There are times when the child has a mental illness that does not allow them, adolescent or teenager, to understand what exactly is happening. Therefore, they act out their emotions the only way they know. This can present itself as violence, emotional abuse, destructive behavior, such as destroying personal property or self-harm. The United States currently protects abused children using Courts,Child Protective Services and other agencies. The US also hasAdult Protective Services which is provided to abused, neglected, or exploited older adults and adults with significant disabilities. There are no agencies or programs that protect parents from abusive children, adolescents or teenagers other than giving up their parental rights to the state they live in.[15]
Lastly, the quality of family relationships directly influences child-to-parent violence, with power-assertive discipline playing a mediating role in this connection. It appears that the emotional aspect and overall quality of family relationships are pivotal factors in preventing violent behaviors.[16]
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