Family characteristics associated with child-to-parent aggressions in adolescents

Abstract

The Child-to-Parent Aggression (CPA) is an area of growing interest. Previous studies suggest that a variety of family factors can act as explanatory elements of the CPA, such as exposure to violence, emotional neglect and permissive parenting style. This study examined the association of these factors with the occurrence of severe physical and psychological CPA. A total of 1698 adolescents (870 boys and 828 girls), aged between 12 and 17 years, answered CPA measures, exposure to violence, affection and communication, parental abandonment and permissive parenting style. Results of logistic regression analysis showed that low levels of affection and communication were associated with all forms of severe CPA. Witnessing family violence was associated with the physical VFP against fathers whereas direct victimization in family was associated with physical CPA against mothers, and psychological CPA against both parents. The permissive style was associated with the severe psychological CPA but not with the physical CPA.