Behavioral problems and depressive symptomatology as predictors of child-to-parent violence

Abstract

The number of complaints filed by parents against their children nationwide has increased dramatically, particularly since 2005. The aim of this study was to examine whether young offenders who had been charged for violence against their parents presented different psychological problems from youngsters charged with other types of offence and non-offenders. Data from 231 adolescents of both sexes aged 14 to 18 years and living in the Basque Country (Spain) were analyzed. Of these, 106 were offenders and the rest were from a community sample. Some of the offenders had been charged with child-to-parent violence (n = 59), while the rest of them had not (n = 47). Offenders who had assaulted or abused their parents presented more behavior problems outside home and more characteristics associated with depressive symptomatology than offenders of other types or non-offenders. Certain psychological problems in adolescents could precipitate family conflict situations and leave parents unable to control their children. Findings highlight the need for offenders charged with child-to-parent violence to receive individual psychological therapy.

Adolescents as perpetrators of aggression within the family

“…The present study extended prior research findings (Ibabe, Arnoso, & Elgorriaga, 2014;Khan & Cooke, 2013) by examining aggression perpetrated by two mental health samples and the use of weapons. Prior research that had examined family aggression among juvenile offenders found that the majority of the sample had used a weapon (i.e., heavy or sharp objects) to perpetrate aggression (Khan & Cooke, 2013), while research that examined clinic-referred youth found no weapon use (Nock & Kazdin, 2002).…”

“…A prior study on 231 adolescents from the community (n=125, non-offender) and prison (n=106, offender) found that 16% and 73% of them, respectively, perpetrated physical aggression toward their parents (Ibabe, Arnoso, & Elgorriaga, 2014). A similar study which examined a sample of 606 clinic-referred adolescents reported that 12.2% had perpetrated physical aggression toward one of their parents.…”

¿Es siempre la familia el principal factor de riesgo en la violencia filioparental?

“…La mayor parte de los investigadores (Rechea y Cuervo, 2009;González-Álvarez et al 2011;Ibabe y Jaureguizar, 2012;Ibabe, Arnoso, Elgorriaga, 2014) reconocen que un tanto por ciento muy elevado de los menores agresivos -7 de cada 10 para Rechea y Cuervo (2010), 6 de cada 10 según Romero et al (2005)-presentan problemas de violencia general, interaccionado estrechamente con otros menores problemáticos, con pertenencia (70,6 % de los casos) a grupos de iguales desadaptados (Rechea y Cuervo, 2010), manteniendo relaciones de amistad con iguales violentos (40,6 %), y presentando en muchos casos (el 53,4 %) carreras delictivas más amplias (Romero et al, 2005). Otros llegan aún más lejos al afirmar que los infractores que agreden a sus padres tienen más problemas conductuales fuera del hogar, incluso, que los infractores que cumplen medida por otros delitos (Ibabe y Jaureguizar, 2012; Ibabe, Arnoso y Elgorriaga, 2014).…”

“…De todo lo anterior podemos concluir que la VFP es un fenómeno complejo, de creciente incidencia y etiología múltiple y variada (Ibabe y Jaureguizar, 2012;Ibabe, Arnoso, Elgorriaga, 2014;Sánchez, 2008;Pueyo Andrés, 2006;Cottrell y Monk, 2004). Dicha complejidad parte de que no hay un solo perfil de maltratador, como tampoco un solo perfil de familia, influyendo factores muy diversos que interaccionan en contextos ecológicos diferentes, si bien no tan distintos de los que explican otras formas de agresión juvenil.…”

The Adaptation of Antisocial Beliefs and Attitudes Scales: Case from Turkish Perspective

“…These numbers have risen annually. Furthermore, the most frequently committed juvenile crimes are theft, extortion, assault and battery, murder, fraud, arson, and larceny [36]. According to records of the General Directorate of Criminal-Records and Statistics for the year 2008, among the cases brought to juvenile and juvenile high crimes courts (which are arranged according to crime type, gender, and age), the most frequent crimes were theft, fraud, looting, and extortion; and the second most frequent types of crimes were ones related to bodily harm such as mutilation, murder, torture, persecution, and organ trafficking.…”